Remember the recent phone company commercial about the guy popping up all over the country in some of the most bizarre locations. He was constantly talking into his cell phone asking, "Can you hear me now? Good." Telemedicine has become the new darling in the health care world, with early adopters now saying, "I told you so," and new users saying, "I wish I had bought this earlier." Insurance plans, health care providers, employers, benefits companies and many other organizations all over the nation are touting the coolness of talking with a physician or medical facility and getting a diagnosis. Telemedicine is revolutionizing health care.
The ability for consumers to address medical issues telephonically with a health care provider is a huge savings in time and money for not only individuals and families, but also for employers. The concept is not new, but the acceptance factor over the past couple of years continues to increase dramatically as more and more people want to talk with a doctor without having to wait in an office or clinic for hours on end until the physician has time to see them. What a bonus!
Billed as an answer to worsening doctor shortages, telemedicine is poised to rise steeply throughout the nation as PPACA brings more people onto the insurance rolls. Telemedicine is one of the fastest growing trends in health care. According to the American Telemedicine Association, more than 10 million Americans benefit each year from the technology — and that number is projected to double in the next few years. Private insurers are increasingly paying for telemedicine, and federal officials propose expanding Medicare payments to telemedicine providers.
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Of all the problems with the U.S. health care system, one of the most vexing for patients is simply sitting in the doctor's waiting room. Being ushered into the exam room, only to be left shivering in a paper gown, to wait some more, adds to the aggravation. It's the health care equivalent of being stuck on the tarmac in a crowded plane, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Proponents say telemedicine reduces travel times and expenses for doctors and patients, cuts down on costly transfers to urban medical centers, and most importantly, extends doctors' reach in a rural state with too few primary care physicians and specialists. On the flip side some doctors and officials express some uncertainty, and telemedicine gives some health care executives pause when deciding whether to get involved with the technology. They said rural physicians sometimes worry urban doctors or institutions may want to co-opt their patients. Despite such concerns, however, telemedicine is forging ahead.
Health insurance usually is tied to jobs in the United States. When unemployment goes up, so does the amount of uninsured people. Employees who are laid off can be offered Cobra insurance, but the rate is often prohibitive. Scared and stressed, many people do not know where to turn, according to Sell Write Now. Telemedicine is the blend of healthcare and technology. Thanks to technology, people now have the choice to consult with a doctor online or over the phone in the comfort of their own home or office.
Not only is a less stressed patient a better patient, but there's also cost savings on gas and parking fees. Many people want to forgo the entire hassle of visiting a doctor, and are opting to do it online or via a phone call with a physician. Seventy percent of non-emergency care can be performed this way. Utilizing telemedicine cuts down on clogging emergency rooms and the risk of catching something in a waiting room. It is also convenient for parents who won't have to find child care, or gamble getting their child sick by bringing them to the doctor's office.
As more employers and private insurers adopt similar policies, the market for telemedicine services in the United States is expected to generate $3.6 billion in annual revenue over the next five years, according to a study by research firm Pike & Fischer. The growth of telemedicine is only expected to increase, particularly as PPACA legislation has gone into effect.
Here's how it works for most people, according to TeleDoc, one of the leading companies in the market: Patients who use this product call a toll free number and talk with a medically trained rep or registered nurse who completes a health profile and triages the call to determine the type of medical issue at hand. If the caller is not suffering from an emergency, a return call is scheduled within three hours or less by a physician in the state where the resident is at the time of the call. However, most calls are returned within 30-45 minutes on average. Patients with critical calls are referred to emergency rooms or told to hang up and call 911.
Physicians diagnose the medical need, and if necessary, prescribe a medication for the caller to pick up at a local pharmacy. Telemedicine calls are usually "one and done", with the majority of issues satisfied by the physician. Doctors cannot prescribe DEA controlled substances or narcotics. They also recommend other courses of action if the caller has medical issues not readily diagnosed by phone, and a follow up call is made within a timely basis to check on the prognosis of the patient. A recommendation is also usually made that the patient visit a primary care physician if there are any other immediate or long term health care needs. And there are a handful of states that require face to face physician consults prior to dispensing any medications even when a phone consult has been done.
There are cost savings for telemedicine customers. Patients don't have to wait for an appointment with a doctor if the need isn't urgent, and they can avoid having to take time off work or school to see a physician. The cost is far lower — usually under $40 for a phone consultation in some cases, versus about $150 for an office visit to a general practitioner — and the option to have a "virtual doctor visit" also improves the availability of health care in rural areas. According to the ATA, telemedicine has been growing rapidly because it offers three fundamental benefits:
• Improved access. For more than 40 years, telemedicine has been used to bring health care services to patients in distant locations. Not only does telemedicine improve access to patients, but it also allows physicians and health facilities to expand their reach beyond their own offices.
• Cost efficiencies. Reducing or containing the cost of health care is one of the most important reasons for funding and adopting telehealth technologies. Telemedicine has been shown to reduce the cost of healthcare and increase efficiency through better management of chronic diseases, shared health professional staffing, reduced travel times and fewer or shorter hospital stays.
• Patient demand. Consumers want telemedicine. The greatest impact of telemedicine is on the patient, their family and their community. Using telemedicine technologies reduces travel time and related stresses to the patient. Over the past 15 years, study after study has documented patient satisfaction and support for telemedicine services. Such services offer patients the access to providers that might not be available otherwise as well as medical services without the need to travel long distances.
Organizations everywhere are looking for ways to increase profitability and reduce costs when it comes to health care expenses, especially if they are self-funded. A great way to help reduce employee costs is by using options that will decrease the need to see a primary care physician or health care provider for simple health issues like the flu, sore throats or other nominally irritating medical needs. Since a self-funded group is paying claims, this mechanism can serve as a tremendous cost savings to the company even as a non-voluntary offering to employees.
Imagine not having to reimburse a doctor for the expense of an office visit, and the employee doesn't have to miss half of his work day waiting to talk to a physician about getting a prescription. What employer wouldn't jump at this way to save on health care expenses, especially if there are hundreds or thousands of employees? Employers, especially those that are self-funded, who are looking for ways to help employees save money and time on health care expenses, as well as increase their own profitability, would do well to engage telemedicine as a valuable tool in their overall plan. Brokers would be smart to offer telemedicine as part of a benefits package. Employees would be smart to use it.
Telemedicine is the future, but it's happening now. Whether you are a consumer, an employer, broker, or a health care provider, using telemedicine provides real time access to medical care and saves time and money in the process. Use your smart phone to call it in. Hey, doc, can you heal me now?
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