Telephone Claims data provides insight into changing patient behavior. Between March 2020, and now, patient behavior has dramatically changed. Going to the healthcare provider for care is not a routine procedure anymore. Because of the global public-health crisis, both patients and providers are now at greater risk. As a result, telehealth usage is on the rise. Cigna published this information in a March 2021 study. Changes in patient behavior will have a significant effect on payers. Please keep reading to see what it means for plans and payers of healthcare. Payers have to change their patient behavior. Here’s how to change patient behavior. Cigna’s study examined national claims for healthcare. Here are some of these critical findings.
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Today’s telehealth visits represent the medical- and behavioral health services provided in facilities that allow them. This is up from just 1% in March. Outpatient behavioral and telehealth visits rose sharply more than levels before March 2020. More than 60% of patients in behavioral health receive telehealth visits. The increasing use of Telehealth for Behavioral Healthcare remained constant, even while telehealth for other services fellCigna researchers uncovered one of their most significant findings from the data. Telehealth has made it easier to access behavioral healthcare. It’s now possible and even advisable to talk to a psychiatrist from the safety and comfort of your own home. This makes it easier for you to manage behavioral health issues.
Modifying patient behaviors Telephone
Cigna studies are in line with other research that has been done on the global crisis of public health. Telehealth usage was shallow before March 2020. 11% of patients used it before that date. Because telehealth is convenient for both providers and patients, adoption rates might have grown slowly if not for the recent health crisis. After March 2020, Telehealth adoption grew exponentially. 46% of American consumers used the telehealth service to replace canceled health visits one month after the spread.
Impact of changing patient behaviors on healthcare
What do these trends signify for the future of healthcare in the 21st century? Two main conclusions are possible: Patients demand telehealth services even though we are beginning to recover from the health crisis. Additionally, mental health attitudes are shifting. Cigna showed that the global healthcare crisis caused a dramatic increase in healthcare claims to provide behavioral health services. As a result, patients became isolated and anxious, which caused them to seek guidance from mental healthcare professionals. Cigna’s survey revealed that 97% accessed behavioral health services between March and May 2020 without a previous mental healthcare claim.
Patients desire to have future access to mental health services.
Three-quarters of patients stated that they would abandon their current healthcare provider if they couldn’t provide telehealth services. Cigna surveyed more than three quarters to find out that patients think that telehealth will become more popular in the future. Patients will continue to demand telehealth services, both from their providers and healthcare payers. There will also be a strong demand for virtual mental health services.