Arizonans took full advantage of telemedicine visits that were allowed temporarily during the pandemic. Now, Governor Doug Ducey has signed a bill that extends them permanently. 

The legislation, House Bill 2454, also ensures that providers continue to be reimbursed for telemedicine visits as they would for an in-person visit. 

That was vital for the healthcare industry, which invested heavily in research and development to rapidly transition to virtual services during the pandemic, said Todd LaPorte, chairman of the, the voice of the majority of hospitals and healthcare employees in the state. 

“This really made a statement to the provider community to keep moving in the direction of this kind of advanced technology — ‘We’ve got your back. We’re going to make sure your investment is reimbursed,’â€� said LaPorte, president and CEO of HonorHealth, a large hospital and healthcare system that spans the Phoenix region. 

Now, the legislation will pave the way to continue to make healthcare more accessible and convenient for all citizens, said LaPorte, who spoke to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ about how the pandemic and technology are changing healthcare for the better. 

Most importantly, the law opens up the opportunity to expand access for all patients, particularly in rural and remote regions, he said.

“We are at a time when there are provider shortages in specialties in certain communities, but now we have the ability to provide access to services that might be based in an urban area, which is really amazing,� LaPorte said.

LaPorte cited examples of how telemedicine is evolving and better serving patients including: 

Telemedicine triage visits for E.R. diagnosis  

Technology for virtual visits to diagnose patients is evolving, including one of the services now provided by the popular virtual triage company , which allows patients to troubleshoot with an E.R. physician to determine whether an emergency room visit is needed. 

Electronic caregivers, at-home monitoring   

Virtual technology for monitoring patients’ health from their homes is also a growing area with body technologies, like rug-like pads equipped with sensors to monitor issues like range of motion after surgery. 

Another successful company, , is using technology with “avatar nurses� to help patients with issues like medication management and interactive health assessments.

Non-clinical side of virtual healthcare expanding  

On the non-clinical side of healthcare, technology is also responding. Medical information technology provider now serves more than 100 million patients to access their medical records and lab results online. Interactive features are also part of the service, such as online appointment setting, observing lab test results, communicating with doctors and healthcare staff and more.

Arizonans on board with virtual health

Arizonans have transitioned easily to telemedicine, LaPorte said. In March 2020, about 25 primary clinics were averaging 2,600 in-office patient visits a day. A month later, 80 percent of patients were using  telemedicine. Video visits were the most prevalent.

According to the data:

-65 percent were video visits 

-15 percent were visits by telephone call 

-20 percent were in-office visits 

No-show rates also lowered with telemedicine appointments compared to in-office visits. Mental health apps are another growing area that have proved beneficial during the public health crisis, he said. 

“We’ve been moving toward electronic records for a decade. The value of that really showed itself during the pandemic,â€� LaPorte said. “When we had to do it, we just did it and people responded. 

“If there’s any good news out of the pandemic, it certainly did accelerate the adoption of technology that was starting to emerge.â€� 

What the new legislation does 

Here are the main elements of the telemedicine bill, HB2454:

-The bill expanded to telemedicine for patients, ensures doctors receive equal compensation from insurance companies for telemedicine services, and allows out-of-state health care professionals to provide telemedicine in Arizona.

-Under the bill, medical examinations in the worker’s compensation space can also be conducted via telehealth if all parties consent. It also prohibits healthcare boards from enforcing any rule that requires a patient to visit in-person before being prescribed most medications. 

-HB 2454 also requires medical insurers to provide payment parity for telehealth services using audio and visual features, and allows health care providers who are licensed in other states to provide telehealth services into Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­nder certain conditions.

About the Health System Alliance of Arizona 

The advocacy organization that represents the interests of large, integrated health systems across Arizona. Membership includes Banner Health, Dignity Health, HonorHealth and Tenet Healthcare. The members represented in the Alliance have more than 80 acute hospitals and medical facilities across the state and employ more than 50,000 Arizonans encompassing nearly all segments of the healthcare economy including physicians, nurses, emergency care, pharmacy, rehabilitation centers, academic medicine and other ancillary services. To learn more, visit:

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Valleywise Health, Maricopa County’s healthcare system for low-income, underserved and ethnically diverse populations, is undergoing a major transformation, including a major upgrade and a new 10-story tower for its public teaching hospital in central Phoenix. 

In addition, it has been adding new healthcare centers across the region and expanding its array of services to better serve those in need. 

County voters made it all possible when they overwhelmingly approved Proposition 480 in 2014. The measure approved the $935 million program. 

Among the goals voters approved was to expand the health system’s reach into underserved areas, incorporate behavioral health services into its model of care, and replace the outdated Maricopa Medical Center with a new, modern acute care facility, the . 

This public teaching hospital contains a Level One trauma center and houses the state’s only nationally-verified burn center. 

Expanding healthcare in underserved areas 

, a national construction and program management firm, was hired to put together a comprehensive, integrative plan for the project, including demographic studies to determine where patient services are lacking. 

“If you look at the drivers that keep people from seeking preventive medical care, the main one is a lack of access,� said Jennifer Frost, Vanir’s Arizona area manager. “Convenient, timely access to integrated, effective and efficient healthcare can reduce the overall cost of care and allow for greater access for all.�

As part of its goal to reach underserved patients, Valleywise Health is testing innovative programs like , a webâ€�enabled, smartphone-based platform, which provides visual guides to help patients describe their symptoms even if they don’t know the words in English. 

“Care Reimagined� construction projects completed and in the works

The expansion of the healthcare system, whose mission is to bring high quality, convenient and affordable care to every corner of the Valley, has been underway for the past three years. 

Here’s a look at projects that are completed or underway:

Valleywise Medical Health Center Construction is underway to build a new tower and update and expand the current hospital at 24th Street and Roosevelt in Phoenix, which was built in 1967. 

The project, which is scheduled for completion in 2023, will include a new 10-story, 673,000-square-foot tower with 233 private patient rooms, a dedicated floor for the , 10 operating rooms, two interventional radiology areas, two catheterization labs, a dedicated procedural floor, rooftop and ground-level helipads and more.

Valleywise is also constructing a new 100,000 square foot support services building and an underground utility system on the campus. The project is replacing outdated structures from the 1980s. 

Valleywise Comprehensive Health Center  – Peoria This new, state-of-the-art comprehensive health center at the corner of Grand Avenue and Cotton Crossing is currently offering services including primary care, cardiology, dialysis, ultrasound, phlebotomy and a pharmacy for current and new Valleywise Health patients. The final phase, scheduled to open this summer, will include an urgent care center, dental clinic, outpatient operating rooms, dialysis, a retail pharmacy, a cafe and a Family Learning Center.

Valleywise Community Health Center – South Phoenix/Laveen Located at 35th and Southern avenues in South Phoenix, this state-of-the-art facility opened last year and offers primary and pediatric care, women’s health, radiology, a pharmacy, diabetes care, behavioral health services with in-person and telehealth appointments, and more. 

Valleywise Community Health Center – North Phoenix Completed in 2020, this center is located at 19th and Northern avenues, offering primary and pediatric care, women’s health, radiology, a pharmacy, diabetes care, behavioral health services with in-person and telehealth appointments, and more. 

Valleywise Behavioral Health Center – Maryvale This 250,000 square-foot, 192-bed psychiatric center opened in 2019 at 51st and Campbell avenues. It is housed in the remodeled former Maryvale Hospital, which shut down in 2017.  

Two other community health centers are also planned for West Maryvale and Mesa, to open later this year and in early 2022, respectively. 

Rebranding a system that dates back to 1877 “pest house�

In addition to the construction projects, part of the proposition funding was used to rebrand the healthcare system, whose history dates back to 1877, when doctors and patients banded together to build a “pest house� for contagious diseases.

Included in the rebranding was changing the system’s name from the Maricopa Integrated Health System to Valleywise Health. 

“Becoming Valleywise Health (has allowed) us to more effectively articulate under one distinct and memorable name our bold vision to improve community health, while providing a modern network of services and facilities in which to train the next generation of physicians, nurses and allied health professionals,� said Steve Purves, Valleywise Health president and CEO.

Massive project employs local and out-of-state companies

The massive project involves the work of more than a dozen local and out-of-state companies including:

Affiliated Engineers, Inc.

Blue Cottage Consulting

Cuningham Group/EYP Health

DFDG Architecture

DLR Group

Gilbane Building Company

DWL Architects + Planners, Inc.

Hobbs+Black Architects

Kitchell Contractors

Land Advisors Organization

NNR Multicultural Business Development

Okland Construction

Siegel + Gale 

Sundt Construction

The Innova Group

Vanir 

To read more about the healthcare system’s 144-year history in the Valley, visit: .

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