Hosted by: Melissa Brown, Chief Operating Officer, Gravity Healthcare Consulting
Why We’re Still Talking About Telehealth
Telehealth wasn’t just a response to the pandemic—it became a lifeline for patients, families, and providers across every care setting. But now, with another short-term extension passed by Congress, we’re left asking: Why hasn’t telehealth been made permanent yet?
In this episode of Gravity Healthcare Hacks, Melissa Brown dives deep into the ongoing need for telehealth—not just as a convenience, but as a critical component of delivering safe, accessible, and efficient care in today’s world.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
✔ Why telehealth should be a permanent fixture in healthcare—not a temporary workaround
✔ How it actually costs more, not less, for providers in therapy settings
✔ Why assumptions about reimbursement cuts are flawed
✔ How to advocate for full reimbursement and policy change
✔ Real-life stories from both the clinical and personal sides of care
“This isn’t about convenience—it’s about the future of care. Patients want it. Clinicians want it. And it helps us serve more people, more efficiently.”
— Melissa Brown
Reimbursement Reality: The Real Cost of Telehealth
One of the biggest misconceptions about telehealth is that it saves providers money. But in therapy—especially in skilled nursing and long-term care—that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Melissa shares why:
- A licensed clinician still needs to be physically present during therapy telehealth sessions
- Staffing and logistics create additional operational costs
- Cutting reimbursement would make it harder, not easier, to sustain this model of care
The bottom line? We should not be reimbursing less for something that costs the same—or more—to deliver safely and effectively.
The Call to Action: Advocate for Change
Melissa issues a strong, clear message to everyone in healthcare: it’s time to advocate. Telehealth needs to become a permanent, fully reimbursed option across care settings.
Don’t wait for the next extension to expire. Raise your voice now.
