Dr. Chris Gallagher, founder and chief strategy officer at Access TeleCare
Photo: Access TeleCare
Looking back on 2025, a great many hospitals and health systems further solidified the critical role telehealth plays across the healthcare industry. From improving access to quality specialty care in rural communities to driving new revenue paths in hospitals across the country, telehealth is no longer a "nice to have," but rather an integral way care is delivered in the U.S.
Still, lasting and coherent federal policy around virtual care remains maddeningly elusive.
"Despite this, we're again faced with the expiration of flexibilities on Jan. 30 around telemedicine that were established nearly six years ago," said Dr. Chris Gallagher, founder and chief strategy officer at Access TeleCare. "Permanent telehealth policy, which I believe we'll see put in place in 2026, will signal to healthcare organizations that virtual care is a viable model for the long haul.
[Editor's Note: Proposals for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the draft funding package released Tuesday by the U.S. House of Representatives include extending Medicare telehealth flexibilities through Dec. 31, 2027, and a five-year extension of the hospital-at-home program through Sept. 30, 2030.]
"With hospital expenses outpacing inflation and new policies looming with the potential to significantly impact provider organizations' bottom lines, health systems will need to review their budgets with a fine-tooth comb," he said. "Those that invest in technologies that alleviate labor – health systems' biggest expense – will thrive."
As the clinician shortage worsens against the backdrop of an aging population, shifting to virtual care will have a domino effect of positive outcomes: decreasing burnout, cutting costs, keeping patients local and improving patient health, he added.
AI, telehealth and strokes
On another note, there has been a concerning increase in the incidence of strokes in recent years, particularly among 18- to 44-year-olds, said Dr. Annie Tsui, chief medical officer, neurology, at Access TeleCare.
"Ischemic strokes account for nearly nine out of ten of all U.S. stroke cases, which makes the news that new guidelines will be announced in Q1 related to the treatment of ischemic stroke particularly exciting – and encouraging – for neuro providers," she noted.
"While a rise in stroke occurrence indicates a decline in overall patient health, I'm encouraged by technology's ability to improve key metrics like door-to-needle and door-in/door-out times," she continued. "Combined with the immense potential of artificial intelligence to transform the way we provide care and treat patients, I'm confident we'll see measurable improvement in patient health outcomes in 2026 and beyond."
A seismic shift for mental health
And over to behavioral healthcare, the need for it is immense, and patients with behavioral health conditions make up 40% of total healthcare spending – but health systems have yet to connect the dots and implement tech-enabled strategies that benefit business while allowing the most appropriate clinicians to provide high-quality care at the right time in the right setting, said Dr. Michael Genovese, chief medical officer, behavioral health, at Access TeleCare.
"A seismic shift is coming, the rumblings of which we'll feel in 2026," he predicted. "Made possible by telehealth and other emerging tech, mental health will begin to be viewed through the same lens as physical health, giving way to less behavioral health patients in the ED, more appropriate allocation of clinician resources, and the ability to care for patients close to their homes.
"This is a key component in achieving optimal health outcomes, particularly for patients experiencing mental health issues," he concluded.
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