Project Sustainability Discussion: Influence of Telehealth Technology on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Compliance (Essay Sample)

Project Sustainability Discussion: Influence of Telehealth Technology on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Compliance Student’s Name Department, Institutional Affiliation Course Instructor’s Name Date Project Sustainability Discussion: Influence of Telehealth Technology on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Compliance For nearly 50 years, telehealth programs have been employed to improve health access in isolated geographic areas in the United States by linking patients and healthcare providers. Telehealth technology's success is attributed to the Federal government's support through grant funding and the private technology industry which continues to develop new programs and software for telehealth (Lustig & Institute of Medicine, 2012). The positive outcome of telehealth technology in different healthcare services proves that it can be a success in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for patients with major depression disorders. However, telehealth's success on CBT compliance depends on the effectiveness of programmatic, financial, and institutional sustainability plans. In addition, lowering the existing barriers is necessary to improve the outcomes of telehealth technology on CBT. Programmatic Sustainability Plans Partnership With the Federal Government and Health Department  The support of the Federal government and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been pivotal in the successful implementation of telehealth to improve healthcare outcomes and control health costs. Partnership with the Federal government and HHS will allow patients with depression to get CBT using existing telehealth infrastructure, such as live video, mobile health, remote patient monitoring, and store-and-forward and health insurance programs. The Federal government will also ensure that public and private healthcare facilities offer CBT using telehealth programs to patients affected by geographic and socioeconomic barriers. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions allow patients in isolated and rural areas to seek several healthcare services (Heaton, 2012), and CBT will be included to ensure its sustainability. In addition, involving the Federal government and HHS will ensure that ACA expands insurance coverage to patients with major depression disorders in isolated areas. As a result, patients with major depression disorders will be willing to attend CBT using telehealth technology since the medical costs will be significantly reduced.  Ensuring Patients Have Access to the Internet  The use of telehealth technology in linking patients and healthcare providers requires access to the internet. However, internet access is a major challenge in many isolated geographic areas. Therefore, patients who want to access CBT through telehealth technology will invest in technological devices like tablets and computers and internet access. The financial support provided by different agencies and governments will be used to equip all patients enrolled in the program with tablets. In addition, the internet issue will be resolved by encouraging patients to move to places with good coverage during the therapy. Financial Sustainability Plans Federal Government Grants The implementation of telehealth to provide CBT requires continued funding, and healthcare facilities will ensure financial sustainability by seeking funding from the Federal government. Since telehealth has transformed healthcare provision in the United States, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), through the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, offers several grant programs to support the growth of telehealth (Zaleski, 2020). Therefore, government grants will be needed to ensure the sustainability of telehealth technology use with CBT to influence attendance by patients with major depression disorders. Other U.S. departments, such as the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), have shown interest in investing in telehealth expansion to ensure members with depression disorders get CBT (Lustig & Institute of Medicine, 2012). The funding from different state departments and the Federal government will ensure the financial sustainability of the project. Medical Fees & Insurance Programs  Medicare and Medicaid health programs that the Federal government funds will help to lower the cost of healthcare for patients with depression. Patients eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare will not bear the costs of using telehealth technology. On the other hand, for the population that is ineligible for Medicaid and Medicare, private health insurance covers will be accepted in public and private health facilities to allow depression patients to access telehealth technology for CBT. Alternatively, patients will be allowed to use their credit cards for treatment if they do not have insurance coverage. The acceptance of different insurance covers as payment options for the medical costs will ensure the project's perpetual funding.  Possible Barriers to the Implementation of Sustainability Plans Limited Access to the Internet and Technological Devices  According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, telehealth involves using technological tools and electronic information in the provision of long-distance healthcare. The use of technology tools means that both patients and healthcare providers need access to the internet and technological devices, such as smartphones and computers, to use telehealth programs. However, according to studies, 30.7% of rural areas lack strong internet access that can support video consultations and timely transmission of patient data (Barriers to telehealth in rural areas, n.d). In addition, data shows that only 29% of the rural population own smartphones (Barriers to telehealth in rural areas, n.d). Therefore, the successful implementation of telehealth technology on CBT compliance means that a portion of funds generated will be used to equip patients with smartphones and tablets. In addition, the Federal government, through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will improve internet connection to ensure that rural areas meet the internet speed threshold. Reimbursement  The sustainability of telehealth technology on CBT compliance depends on the...