Payer

Last year, digital musculoskeletal care and physical therapy companies raked in plenty of investor dollars. Startups say the expensive MSK health sector is ripe for innovation.

One CIO names the technologies and leadership strategies he'll be focused on this year: platform design, 'Virtual Care 3.0' and more.

Independent physician groups, which include telehealth docs, must now accept a rate that someone else has negotiated, expert says. 

In a preview of their HIMSS22 presentation, Robert Jarrin, strategic advisor to ResMed Corp., and Brian Scarpelli, senior global policy counsel at the Connected Health Initiative, explain the current digital health reimbursement landscape.

The ECRI Institute's annual report from its Device Evaluation Program reflects enduring ramifications of the pandemic and cautions healthcare leaders about maintaining connectivity.

Also: Truepill launches a COVID-19 test coverage platform for insurers, and 23andMe extends its partnership with GSK.

Glooko CEO Russ Johannesson predicts that the growth in digital health funding will continue this year, and that the push toward interoperability will be critical for the space.

Areas of opportunity include data analytics for research, enhancing EHR capabilities and using AI algorithms to support patient care and operational efficiency.

Also: Medicare Advantage insurer Zing Health partners with Papa. Verily and biopharma-company Sosei Heptares announce a research collaboration. Pharma-focused accelerator PharmStars’ next cohort will focus on neurological diseases.

More payers launched virtual-first plans, insurtechs went public, and the digital mental health space brought in plenty of funding dollars this year.