Optimal Quality Metrics for Telemedicine

1. What is the decision or change you are facing or struggling with where a summary of the evidence would be helpful?

What are the most optimal Quality metrics for a telemedicine environment in order to best measure health outcomes, health related QOL, in accordance to cost.

2. Why are you struggling with this issue?

There is no clarity of how national telemedicine companies are impacting the access in tandem to improving preventive and chronic care health outcomes for patients, reducing utilization and costs for payors and health systems. There is also concern about recurrent use and even abuse by patients who are using these platforms in lieu of in person primary care for refills, for care needs without continuity and the impact of this on health outcomes, providers and Health system utilization long term for secondary and tertiary prevention is largely unknown.

3. What do you want to see changed? How will you know that your issue is improving or has been addressed?

I'd like AHRQ you embark on a systematic review, consider a partnership with payors and telemedicine companies to do a prospective study, consider incorporating registries in order to better grasp how telemedicine can be best utilized to target specific age groups and health conditions. The dilemma is not having the ability to access pharmacy data, medical records and to ensure safe practices in a telemedicine environment while providing access in many parts of the country that need this service. It would also be prudent to understand the impact on healthcare workforce needs.

4. When do you need the evidence report?

Fri, 12/31/2021

5. What will you do with the evidence report?

It will inform how to restructure telemedicine for payors like Cigna and others that have acquired telemedicine companies and are trying to understand how best to implement telemedicine post COVID.

(Optional) About You

What is your role or perspective? Quality Improvement Medical Director and former AHRQ medical officer

If you are you making a suggestion on behalf of an organization, please state the name of the organization: MDLIVE, Inc (an Evernorth company) under Cigna

May we contact you if we have questions about your nomination? Yes