How is virtual healthcare used to benefit patients and care givers? What are the newest innovations in virtual care technology? How do telehealth and telemedicine fit into the realm of virtual healthcare? We have our finger on the pulse and are striving to report the latest developments around virtual healthcare.
Industry News
Avel eCare Announces Acquisition of Amwell Psychiatric Care to Expand Telemedicine Services
Avel eCare, a national telemedicine provider of clinician-to-clinician services, is proud to announce the acquisition of Amwell Psychiatric Care (APC), a division of Amwell®. This acquisition further solidifies Avel eCare’s position as a national leader in telemedicine and expands its Behavioral Health services to meet the growing demand across rural and urban communities.
Teladoc Health Joins Amazon’s Health Benefits Connector for Cardiometabolic Programs
Teladoc Health, the global leader in virtual care, announced a new collaboration with Amazon to expand access to Teladoc’s industry-leading chronic condition programs. Customers of Amazon that are eligible for Teladoc Health’s diabetes, hypertension, pre-diabetes and weight management programs can now seamlessly discover and enroll in these benefits directly through Amazon’s Health Benefits Connector, previously known as Health Condition Programs.
Avel eCare and Cibolo Health Announces Strategic Partnership to Expand Access to Telehealth Specialty Care and Services
Avel eCare, a national telemedicine provider of clinician-to-clinician services, proudly announces a strategic partnership with Cibolo Health. This collaboration marks a pivotal step toward improving healthcare access in rural and underserved communities, underscoring both organizations’ shared commitment to delivering high-quality care no matter where patients live.
VSee Health Awarded Multi-Year, $6M First Year, Government Contract to Deliver Rapid Configurable Telehealth
VSee Health, Inc., a provider of comprehensive digital health services and customized telehealth workflow streams, has been awarded a multi-year government contract with $6M allocated for the first year.
Huma and Wheel Partner to Deliver a Direct-to-Consumer Platform as a Service
Huma and Wheel have announced a joint venture (JV) aimed at transforming healthcare delivery by empowering any organization to launch end-to-end, digital-first care solutions directly to consumers. This collaboration combines the distinct strengths of both companies into a single, vertically integrated platform to deliver personalized, convenient, and high-quality virtual care at scale.
Iris Telehealth Acquires innovaTel to Expand Telepsychiatry Services
Iris Telehealth, a provider of behavioral health services for health systems and community healthcare organizations, announced the acquisition of innovaTel, a division of Quartet Health and telepsychiatry provider with differentiated expertise in treating complex conditions and unparalleled commitment to quality care.
CareView Communications announces partnership with Mercy Medical Center
CareView Communications, a Lewisville, Texas-based provider of integrated virtual care solutions for the healthcare industry, announced a new business agreement with Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Centivo Unveils Centivo Care: A Cutting-Edge Virtual Primary Care Experience
Centivo, a pioneering healthcare company committed to making quality healthcare radically affordable, is thrilled to announce the launch of Centivo Care, a virtual primary care practice seamlessly integrated into Centivo-administered health plans. This innovative platform addresses the growing challenge of primary care access, offering a streamlined digital experience that connects patients and providers with unprecedented ease.
Systole Health Launches Innovative Virtual Group Health Care for Women’s Heart Health with $2M Pre-Seed Funding Round Led by Benchstrength
Systole Health, a tech-enabled group virtual care solution for women’s heart health, announced $2M in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Benchstrength, with participation from January Ventures, J Ventures, and Tom X. Lee, founder of One Medical.
Telemedicine Clinic Hone Health Closes $33M Series A Funding and Acquires ivee
Hone Health, a telehealth clinic specializing in preventative and proactive longevity care, announced that it crossed 300,000 patients tested, 55,000 patients treated, and completed a $33M Series A funding round. he new investment will drive the company’s expansion into proactive & preventative longevity care for men and women while supporting its commitment to regulatory compliance and patient safety.
HealthTap to Power Virtual Care for Christian Healthcare Ministries
Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM), the nation’s longest-serving health cost sharing ministry, announced it’s partnering with leading tech-enabled virtual primary care physician group HealthTap to help combat rising healthcare costs. The three-year partnership provides access to virtual primary and urgent care services as part of the member experience.
TimelyCare Named One of Princeton Review’s Top Five “Need to Know” Mental Health Organizations
TimelyCare, higher education’s most trusted virtual health and well-being provider, is included on The Princeton Review’s prestigious list of the “Five Need-to-Know National Organizations for Mental Health Awareness.”
VSee Health Secures $340K Contract to Create AI-Enabled EHR System
VSee Health, Inc., a provider of comprehensive digital health services and customized telehealth workflow streams, announces its $340K contract with a major EAP provider to build an integrated AI-enabled electronic health records (EHR) and virtual care delivery platform.
Remote Patient Monitoring
CareGenix Secures Multi-Million Dollar Growth Funding Package From Decathlon Capital Partners
CareGenix Solutions, a provider of virtual healthcare services such as remote patient monitoring chronic care management and behavioral health integration services, has secured a multi-million dollar growth funding package from Decathlon Capital Partners.
Product News
GeneDx Introduces New Telehealth Pathway to Expand Access to Exome Testing for Parents Seeking Answers
GeneDx, delivering improved health outcomes through genomic insights, announced a new way to provide genetic counseling and test-ordering services for patients and families seeking access to genetic testing. The new telehealth testing pathway aims to shorten the diagnostic odyssey by connecting parents directly with genetic experts, increasing access to exome and genome testing.
VirtuAlly Awarded Accreditation for Telehealth Services from The Joint Commission
Virtual nursing and telesitting company VirtuAlly received accreditation for telehealth services from The Joint Commission. This honor demonstrates the company’s continuous compliance with performance standards and commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.
Amwell® adds Vida to its clinical programs portfolio expanding access to obesity and diabetes care
Amwell, a provider of digital care, announced that Vida Health, a leader in virtual cardiometabolic care, is now part of the clinical programs portfolio on the Amwell platform.
Policy News
ATA Action Calls for DEA to Establish a Workgroup to Create Permanent Framework for Remote Prescribing of Controlled Substances
ATA Action urged the DEA to take immediate steps to form a public-private workgroup to establish a permanent framework for the remote prescribing of controlled substances. In a letter to DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, copying Assistant Administrator for Diversion Control Tom Prevoznik, ATA Action called for input from outside stakeholders to assist in the creation of this framework, providing the necessary data and feedback to ensure that the policies implemented protect both patients and providers while enhancing access to critical and lifesaving prescriptions.
DEA Announces Three New Telemedicine Rules that Continue to Open Access to Telehealth Treatment while Protecting Patients
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is announcing three new rules to make permanent some temporary telemedicine flexibilities established during the COVID-19 public health emergency while also establishing new patient protections.
HHS guidance offers solutions to protect telehealth platforms from cybercriminals
The Department of Health and Human Services Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center Jan. 8 released guidance on cybersecurity for telehealth applications. The guide highlights the challenges of securing telehealth platforms due to vulnerabilities that can expose them to a range of cyberattacks, such as data breaches, structured query language attacks, ransomware, phishing and more. The guide lists several ways to secure and protect patient information.
To Read
Telemedicine Reduces No-Shows and Last-Minute Cancellations in Healthcare Appointments by Telehealth.org- No shows and last minute cancellations present significant challenges for healthcare providers nationwide. Telemedicine may offer an effective solution to this persistent problem.
Telehealth Utilization Increased Nationally and in Every Region but the Midwest, Where It Decreased – In October 2024, telehealth utilization increased nationally and in every US census region but the Midwest, where it decreased, according to FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker.
DEA Releases Long-Awaited Telehealth Special Registration Proposal, but Adoption Is Uncertain – On January 15, 2025, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released a proposed rule entitled Special Registrations for Telemedicine and Limited State Telemedicine Registrations.
To Listen
Our HealthcareNOW Radio Telehealth Playlist
The Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines telehealth as “the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration.” To learn more and find out about the latest in telehealth tune in to the episodes on this playlist. Additionally, be sure to read HCNR’s Friday Five which recaps the site’s month long concentration on telehealth.
Defining the Industry According to the AAFP
Telemedicine is the practice of medicine using technology to deliver care at a distance. It occurs using a telecommunications infrastructure between a patient (at an originating or spoke site) and a physician or other practitioner licensed to practice medicine (at a distant or hub site).
Virtual Care is a patient service model for healthcare providers.
Telehealth refers to a broad collection of electronic and telecommunications technologies that support health care delivery and services from distant locations. Telehealth technologies support virtual medical, health, and education services.
Hashtags to follow for updates on Telemedicine:
Telehealth.HHS.gov
During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, we don’t have to choose between medical care and social distancing. When patients can get health care through telehealth — and doctors can provide it — we protect ourselves and our communities. The Telehealth.HHS.gov website provides information about the latest federal efforts to support and promote telehealth services.
The American Telemedicine Association Events
ATA is a non-profit association based in Washington DC with a membership network of more than 10,000 industry leaders and healthcare professionals. We are a leading telehealth association helping to transform healthcare by improving the quality, equity and affordability of healthcare throughout the world. Find their next event.
Upcoming Events
ATA Nexus 2025 (@AmericanTelemed)
What: ATA Nexus 2025
When: May 3 – 6, 2025
Where: New Orleans, LA
Event Hashtag: #ATANexus
Register here.
Nexus 2025 will convene leading healthcare delivery organizations and the solution providers that support them, government agencies, payors, and other stakeholders to share critical insights and build action plans that enable virtual care as an indispensable care modality and permanent part of healthcare delivery. Nexus 2025 is where the future of healthcare is being built.
Be sure to check out the complete list of upcoming events from the American Telemedicine Association.