Implementing Telemedicine in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Gadzinski, A.J., Gore, J.L., Ellimoottil, C., Odisho, A.Y., Watts., K.L.
Published: April 2020
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated drastic measures nationally that impact the delivery of high quality urological care. Multiple municipalities and states have instituted shelter in place or stay at home policies wherein only essential workers, such as those in health care, may leave their residences. These policies have ramifications for patients who need more urgent urology care and for the panel of patients that urologists care for on a regular basis. In response to the pandemic Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar has waived restrictions on telemedicine services for Medicare Part B beneficiaries retroactive to March 1, 2020.