Health Care Economics Report

This report examines the shortcomings in telemedicine and telehealth service delivery within Maryland. Key gaps identified include insufficient statewide network infrastructure hindering widespread service accessibility, a lack of advanced technology necessary for effective telemedicine implementation, an inadequate number of service providers, limited availability of high-quality Home Health services to complement telehealth, and the absence of crucial payment programs like HCBS Waiver and Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility. These factors collectively restrict the reach and effectiveness of telehealth services in the state. The report concludes by highlighting the need to address these infrastructural and systemic deficiencies to maximize the benefits of telehealth for Maryland residents.

Running Head: HEALTH
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Health Care Economics

HEALTH
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Introduction
The telemedicine and telehealth are two key advancements in the healthcare industry. Use of the
telemedicine and telehealth makes the healthcare services more accessible to the consumers.
With higher accessibility of these services, achieving better health outcomes becomes easier for
the consumers. However, availability of the latest advancements of the healthcare programs
depend on the infrastructure available in a state. Due to lack of infrastructure, the gaps may arise
in the delivery of healthcare services. The current report deals with analysis of the gaps in
telemedicine and telehealth service delivery in Maryland. The report includes discussion on the
areas that need to be improved for enhancing the accessibility of the telehealth services in
Maryland.
Gaps
The presence of state-wide network is necessary to improve the availability of the healthcare
services to all the beneficiaries (Chaet et al., 2017). The telehealth is extensively dependent on
the network for service delivery. When the network is not available, the telehealth services
cannot be offered to the recipients. Analysis on the available infrastructure of Maryland indicates
that the network for offering the telehealth services to all parts across the state is not available.
As an effect, the people from all places of the state are not receiving the services. In order to
ensure the optimum benefit from the telehealth services, it is necessary to make it available to the
highest number of people. In the case of Maryland, availability of the services is being restricted
due to lack of the infrastructure. It is limiting the benefits obtained from the services.

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The telemedicine and the telehealth services are extensively dependent on the technology. The
analysis on the availability of the advanced technology in Maryland indicates that the state lacks
eligible technology for telemedicine. As the necessary technology is not available, the
availability of the telehealth also gets affected.
The presence of service providers is another crucial factor for increased availability of the
telehealth services (Nelson, 2017). The discussion on the current status of the health
infrastructure in Maryland indicates that adequate number of service provider is not present in
the state. As an effect, the availability of the services is being affected.
The telehealth services become more effective when it is combined with the Home Health
services. The Home Health services enable the individuals to obtain healthcare support at home.
In Maryland, the Home Health services of high quality are not available. As a result, the usability
of the telehealth services in the state is being affected.
Presence of the payment systems is effective to increase accessibility of the telehealth program.
In Maryland, two key payment programs, such as HCBS Waiver and Medicare-Medicaid dual
eligibility is not available. As an effect, the accessibility of the telehealth services is also being
affected.
Conclusion
The discussion on the present infrastructure of Maryland indicates that the lack of technology,
absence of the service providers and the lack of the appropriate payment system is limiting the
effectiveness of the telehealth.

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References
Chaet, D., Clearfield, R., Sabin, J. E., & Skimming, K. (2017). Ethical practice in Telehealth and
Telemedicine. Journal of general internal medicine, 32(10), 1136-1140.
Nelson, R. (2017). Telemedicine and telehealth: The potential to improve rural access to
care. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 117(6), 17-18.