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| A Systematic Literature Review of the Strategies used to Improve Reimbursement Rates for Telemedicine Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
Dustin Nehrt, BS Bruce Lazar, MBA, DM
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Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019 created unique challenges in the United States healthcare system. Social distancing became an obstacle to treating patients that historically has taken place in person. Clinicians unable to see their patients in person began to either implement telemedicine or expanded already established services to incorporate the larger patient volume that they would potentially encounter. As with any new service or expanded service, ensuring appropriate reimbursement may be a source of stress, especially during a viral pandemic. This systematic literature review aimed to explore successful strategies that healthcare employees use for providing telemedicine services, during the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, to improve reimbursement rates through appropriate billing standards. A search of the literature transpired using the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health, MEDLINE, and Academic Search Complete databases utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Data from the 20 relevant articles were meticulously analyzed using screening criteria that revolved around our research question. Five themes emerged from the literature during the data analysis process. The themes included barriers hindering successful implementation being removed, resources provided for healthcare workers to follow up with for greater detail, a need for telemedicine during the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, improving reimbursement rates, and appropriate billing standards. The findings and results indicate that healthcare workers can successfully implement telemedicine services and code and bill for those services to ensure appropriate reimbursement. The results demonstrate that published articles are indeed attempting to assist other healthcare providers with telemedicine implementation and reimbursement. The implications of these findings provide healthcare leaders with further insight into implementing appropriate strategies for providing telemedicine services and improving reimbursement rates.
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