COVID-19 Unmasked: Mental Health | Valera Health Expands Telemental Health Services to Support CDPHP Members

Valera Health has officially expanded its telemental health services to members of the Capital District Physicians Health Plan (CDPHP). Members can now receive care in the comfort and safety of their own homes. First announced in 2019, CDPHP will employ Valera's digital tools and advanced data analytics to amplify the impact of clinical services and maximize patient engagement and outcomes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the pandemic and social isolation can increase stress and anxiety, and these feelings are also known to increase the risk of suicide. The CDC recommends focusing on emotional well-being and seeking treatment via in-person or telehealth services.

Cigna Expands Virtual Support for Mental Health | Talkspace Now Covers 40 Million US Insured

May is Mental Health Awareness month and effective today, Cigna is making it simpler and more convenient for its customers to access an expanded suite of virtual support services for mental and emotional health. Cigna is adding Talkspace to its behavioral provider network, allowing its 14 million customers enrolled in employer-sponsored plans the ability to talk and text with licensed therapists, who are available on-demand.

FDA Issues EUA for First COVID-19 Standalone At-Home Sample Collection Kit

The FDA has issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) to Everlywell, Inc. for the Everlywell COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit. Everlywell’s kit, a self-collected nasal swab, is authorized to be used by individuals at home who have been screened using an online questionnaire that is reviewed by a health care provider. This marks the first standalone sample collection kit to be granted a proper EUA by the FDA. The FDA has also authorized two COVID-19 diagnostic tests, performed at specific laboratories, for use with samples collected using the Everlywell COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit. These tests have been authorized under separate, individual EUAs.

The Power of Digital Health Tools

Digital health is at the forefront of transformation in the healthcare industry. Digital disruption in healthcare has been underway for years, with healthcare organizations trying to digitize operations and processes to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, while increasing quality care. Significant digital health solutions like EHRs, digital therapeutics, telehealth, AI, wearables, and blockchain are the foundation of the industry's digital awakening. Successful implementation of digital health tools starts with a reliable roadmap that emphasizes shifting staff/patient perspectives and proactive outreach.

COVID-19 Digital Tools & Resources | Apple, Google Partner Up to Offer COVID-19 Contact Tracing

Apple, Google Partner Up to Offer COVID-19 Contact Tracing Recently Apple and Google partnered together on contract tracing to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Contact tracing makes it possible to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus by alerting participants of potential exposure to someone who they have recently been in contact with, and … Continue reading COVID-19 Digital Tools & Resources | Apple, Google Partner Up to Offer COVID-19 Contact Tracing →

COVID-19: The Role of Digital Health Tools

Four months into 2020, the world is facing an existential global health crisis: the outbreak of a novel coronavirus– caused respiratory disease (COVID-19). Cases of a novel coronavirus were first reported in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, in December 2019 and have since spread across the world. It can be argued that ultimately it would've been impossible to resist the health tech revolution as we move into the 2020s. The COVID-19 pandemic just helped speed the need for digital health tools to be adopted and implemented into the clinical setting.

The Core Principles on Virtual Care | Consumer Technology Association releases set of recommendations for efficient and effective use of virtual care tools

Titled the Guiding Principles on Virtual Care, the proposals were developed by various virtual care companies affiliated with CTA, including Livongo, Doctor on Demand, Validic and 98point6. Reports show that patients with access to their own health data are far more likely to engage with the information in ways that improve the quality of care and their overall healthcare experience. The above principles laid out by the CTA are based on concepts and best practices currently present and developing in the U.S. regarding the provision of virtual care and consumer protection.