ANZ Cardiac Bodies Push for Permanent Telehealth Integration in Hybrid Care

The push for permanent telehealth in cardiology marks a significant shift from reactive pandemic-era policies to a proactive, structured digital health strategy in Australia and New Zealand. By releasing a comprehensive position statement, the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) and the Australian Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Association (ACRA) are signaling that the emergency phase of virtual care is over, and the integration phase must begin. This move is not merely about convenience; it is a strategic effort to address the geographic and socioeconomic barriers that have long hindered cardiac care across the vast landscapes of the ANZ region.

Historically, cardiac care has relied heavily on face-to-face interactions for diagnostics and rehabilitation. However, the geographic dispersion of the Australian and New Zealand populations often means that patients in rural or remote areas face significant delays or total lack of access to specialist care. The new position statement emphasizes a hybrid model, where telehealth is not a replacement for the physical examination but a vital extension of the clinical toolkit. This approach aligns with global trends seen in the United States and Europe, where major cardiology bodies are increasingly formalizing virtual care standards to ensure that the quality of remote consultations matches that of in-person visits.

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The push for permanent telehealth in cardiology marks a significant shift from reactive pandemic-era policies to a proactive, structured digital health strategy in Australia and New Zealand.

One of the most critical aspects of the CSANZ and ACRA guidance is the focus on equity. Digital health has often been criticized for potentially widening the gap between those with high digital literacy and reliable internet access and those without. The position statement specifically addresses how clinicians can navigate these challenges, ensuring that telehealth services do not inadvertently disadvantage vulnerable populations, including Indigenous communities and elderly patients. By providing clear protocols for when a virtual visit is appropriate—and, crucially, when it is not—the societies are providing a safety net for General Practitioners (GPs) who are often on the front lines of chronic disease management.

From a market and health systems perspective, the formalization of cardiac telehealth has profound implications for long-term cost management. Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death and hospitalization in both Australia and New Zealand. By improving the accessibility of cardiac rehabilitation—an area where ACRA specializes—health systems can significantly reduce hospital readmission rates. Traditional rehabilitation programs often suffer from high dropout rates due to the logistical challenges of attending multiple in-person sessions. A permanent telehealth framework allows for more flexible, home-based monitoring and coaching, which has been shown to improve patient adherence and long-term outcomes.

Looking forward, the industry should watch for how government payers, such as Medicare in Australia and Te Whatu Ora in New Zealand, respond to this clinical consensus. For telehealth to be truly permanent, the reimbursement structures must reflect the clinical value outlined by CSANZ and ACRA. This position statement provides the evidence-based foundation that policymakers need to transition temporary billing codes into permanent fixtures of the healthcare system. Furthermore, this move by the cardiology sector is likely to set a precedent for other chronic disease specialties, such as oncology and endocrinology, to develop their own formal frameworks for hybrid care delivery.