Many of us are waiting weeks or months to book medical appointments. Or taking a long drive to get to the only provider taking new patients—often more than an hour away. And once in the office, chances are we’re spending more time in waiting rooms just for a routine appointment.
The national shortage of healthcare workers has been well-documented, and Maine is feeling it, too, with access to providers emerging as one of the greatest barriers to treatment. By the end of 2022, Maine had just 580 doctors practicing family medicine, an 18% decline from 2019, according to The Portland Press Herald, leaving fewer doctors for a growing population.
During the pandemic, patients discovered the convenience of telehealth and began meeting with their providers through a phone call or video chat from the comfort of their own homes. The concept certainly wasn’t new—Community Health Options Members had access to Amwell® behavioral telehealth well before Covid-19 struck.
That concept has expanded to virtual primary care, giving people the option through an online care team, expanding access to care. Alongside its traditional provider network, Community Health Options now offers Members 18 and older the option to choose a virtual-first primary care team through Firefly Health.
When it comes to health outcomes, many studies have shown patients miss fewer virtual appointments, helping them to stay on track with their health needs. And in a recent pilot program, Walmart employees with diabetes who used virtual care saw a 24% average reduction in glucose levels and patients with hypertension had a 14% reduction in blood pressure, the company said in 2023 when it expanded its program to Maine, among other states.
So how can you access telehealth with traditional care?
How does virtual primary care work?
Community Health Options Members can download and use the Firefly app to choose a primary care team comprising a medical doctor, nurse practitioner, behavioral health specialist and health guide, and make an initial appointment within three business days. The team addresses all aspects of primary care and provides referrals for in-person care when necessary.
There are programs available to help people get the tech they need to access this kind of care, For example, people needing help paying for a cell phone, internet access or cell minutes, can apply for assistance through Lifeline, a federal program that makes communications services more affordable for eligible individuals.
Members with questions about virtual care or the Community Health Options provider network can call our Maine-based Member Services team at (855) 624-6463 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
When it comes to healthcare, Maine gets high marks for its quality of care. The trouble is, it’s getting harder for Mainers to access that care.
Recently, a Community Health Options Member needed a new primary care provider after her doctor retired. After a long search, she finally found someone accepting new patients, but faced an eight-month wait for an appointment. Unfortunately, her story has become commonplace. Access to care is no longer a struggle for just the uninsured but has become a universal issue that hits everyone.
