Message-based telehealth an increasingly important part of seniors’ healthcare, study finds

Message-based telehealth an increasingly important part of seniors’ healthcare, study finds
McKnights Senior Living, by Aaron Dorman; 4/11/24 
Many healthcare experts, and even government agencies, are working to try to expand telehealth coverage for older adults. But much of that work considers telehealth in terms of video and/or phone conversations. E-mails and digital messaging across patient portals, however, also are part of seniors’ healthcare regimen, particularly those who are Medicare beneficiaries, finds a new study published in Health Affairs Scholar. As such, updated telehealth coverage decisions should factor in the time that older adults, their caregivers and clinicians need to exchange these messages, the researchers said.