New, often lower-cost, plans capitalize on the convenience of telemedicine—and patients’ growing familiarity with it. In fact, some insurers now require initial telehealth visits for non-emergency primary care. But consumers should weigh costs and care options before enrolling in a “virtual-first” plan, warns Kaiser Health News. Most insurers doing this rely on contracted physicians, mental health therapists and other staff members. Moreover, some may permit an in-person visit only if their virtual doctor, who may have never examined them in person, deems it necessary. (Kaiser Health News)

Nearly two-thirds of clinicians reported relying on telehealth during the pandemic to maintain patients’ access to care, according to survey findings from the Larry A. Green Center and the Primary Care Collaborative. Clinicians also reported concerns about the continued widespread use of telehealth: 41% of responding clinicians worried that their practice would not be able to support telehealth going forward and 21% said they had to cut back on telehealth use since payments were reduced. A particularly interesting finding: 25% of clinicians were concerned that primary care will become weakened by telehealth in the future. (Healio Primary Care)

A new Zogby poll of HR decision makers found that 87% of respondents feel their company would benefit from a more innovative way to manage medication therapy problems, and 92% feel offering a medication expert and/or clinical pharmacist would be helpful in better understanding medications. Managing the drug benefit is more complex than ever before; many employers are moving beyond formulary design to looking at how medications are being managed for the individual patient, says Katherine H. Capps, co-founder and executive director of The GTMRx Institute, which commissioned the poll. “Is there someone on the care team asking: ‘Is this the right medication for this person?’” (GTMRx)