We may now be coming out of the acute pandemic phase, but our post-COVID-19 reality has been significantly and permanently changed by an evolution in the digital health technologies it drove.

Major shifts in both provider and patient attitudes have proven powerful driving forces for the transition to telehealth we’re seeing in both neurology and psychiatry. Amongst these transitions is the regulatory adoption of telehealth policies, which includes changes to HIPAA, medicare/medicaid reimbursement, and a huge growth in telehealth CPT codes (used for reimbursing procedures). While many are not federally permanent, states have taken it upon themselves to legalise the most essential telehealth policies (e.g. pay parity and interstate services).

The new post-pandemic reality is a hybrid virtual/in-person approach for many neurological and psychiatric conditions – driving rapid regulatory change, reduced delivery costs, and improved patient access. For example, telehealth benefits those with neurological and psychiatric disorders by enhancing care through earlier intervention to prevent costly downstream care (e.g., hospitalization).

Just as virtual engagement with pharma field reps is now here to stay, so too is the delivery of virtual treatment options for patients. Telehealth – and the broader landscape of digital healthcare – is poised to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry for decades to come. As industry leaders, the strategic direction that we set forth must align with this movement – or we risk being left behind.