Pandemic Driving Rocketing Telehealth Demand, Pai Says

The pandemic "is becoming a tipping point for telehealth," with the Veterans Administration going from 7,400 remote mental health consultations weekly in early April to 52,600 by April's end, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told the Health Innovation Alliance Wednesday, per prepared remarks. VA virtual primary care visits went from 1,100 to 13,000, and specialty care and rehabilitation visits went from 1,200 to more than 21,000, he said. Other health providers are also having big demand increases for telehealth services, he said, saying the agency has awarded funds.