The nation’s healthcare system is in the middle of a major transition – one that, if done well, will have an incredible impact on the lives of millions Americans who rely on Medicare.
The $900 billion federal program provides health insurance for Americans over 65 and others who suffer from certain conditions and diseases. For a long time, Medicare has had a reputation for being bureaucratic, lethargic, wasteful, and outdated.
Further, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which administers Medicare, has been slow to incorporate advances in advanced health technology in the program. In 2014, the agency allocated barely 2 percent of its nearly $1 billion Medicare budget to support telehealth.