Physician Characteristics and the Use of Telemedicine in In-Center Hemodialysis Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Telemedicine presents an opportunity to make care delivery more convenient and efficient, helping patients connect with their physicians more easily. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic drastically increased the adoption of telemedicine across medical specialties.1,2 Emergency waivers from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) removed long standing barriers to telemedicine use, contributing to this rapid increase. Of note, these included home and in-center dialysis units as originating sites, the use of non-Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) approved video platforms, relaxation of state licensure across state lines, and reimbursement parity.