Galileo's Thomas Lee on Telehealth, Equity & Access To Care

<p>Last week, the Kaiser Family Foundation released a report showing that <a href="https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/outpatient-telehealth-use-soared-early-in-the-covid-19-pandemic-but-has-since-receded/">outpatient telehealth use has decreased</a> after an initial spike in use during the COVID-19 pandemic's early months. </p><p>This week, a new Stat News report examines whether <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2022/02/14/telehealth-costs-covid19-pandemic/">telehealth services actually lowers health care costs </a>and spending.</p><p>It's known that <a href="https://www.ajmc.com/view/contributor-telehealth-claim-lines-increased-4132-nationally-from-june-2019-to-june-2020">telehealth use was low before the COVID-19 pandemic</a>. Historically, it has been challenging to scale and integrate telemedicine and virtual care models within the broader health care system. </p><p>Dr. Thomas Lee, founder and CEO of <a href="https://galileohealth.com/">Galileo Health</a>, joins <em>Health Affairs This Week </em>host Leslie Erdelack to discuss the state of telehealth, access to care, and health equity. Before starting Galileo, Dr. Lee founded One Medical, a primary care company. </p><p><strong>Related Links:</strong></p><ul> <li> <a href="https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/outpatient-telehealth-use-soared-early-in-the-covid-19-pandemic-but-has-since-receded/">Outpatient telehealth use soared early in the COVID-19 pandemic but has since receded</a> (Kaiser Family Foundation)</li> <li> <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2022/02/14/telehealth-costs-covid19-pandemic/">What we know - and still don't know - about whether telehealth can cut costs</a> (Stat News)</li> <li> <a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/abs/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01786">Variation In Telemedicine Use and Outpatient Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States</a> (<em>Health Affairs</em>)</li> <li> <a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/forefront.20210909.961330/">Seizing The Moment For Telehealth Policy and Equity