The Affordable Care Act and Digital Health Applications

Telehealth, the delivery of health-related services and information via digital communication technologies, is a rapidly emerging, innovative, cost-effective and efficient way to deliver healthcare. There are three main types of telehealth: store and forward; remote monitoring; and real-time interactive services. Smartphone applications, or apps, that connect a provider with a patient, known as "connective health apps," fall under this umbrella of telehealth and can function in all three of the categories. As the Affordable Care Act legislates to improve quality, lower costs, and expand coverage, connective health apps are an important aspect of the Act. This article addresses to what extent the Affordable Care Act and private insurers cover and promote connective health apps and discusses the potential limitations and benefits of these apps and the best ways to integrate them in the future.