Category Archives: Telemedicine

Research done by the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2017 showed that mothers are responsible for making 79% of all the decisions that affect their kids’ health. It further revealed that they take time off their busy schedules to take them to 77% of their doctor’s appointments. This shows that moms spend a lot of time in medical facilities. Sometimes, it’s because of their children, but other times, it’s to get health care for themselves.

With the rise of telemedicine, working moms have found a better way to access medical care. The following are some of the reasons why most of them are opting for telehealth.

It is Efficient

Telemedicine allows mothers to get medical care or any health-related information via their smartphones. The service is as effective and well-organized as it can get. The apps are designed to connect patients to doctors through a variety of ways that include video-chat services. They may also send photos of the symptoms; that might consist of rashes and sores.

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The patients can explain their problems or that of their kids to the physician. The latter make their diagnosis, recommends medicine, and provides any medical advice that may help them.

It is Fast

Everyone wants to save time. Telemedicine allows moms to access health care services in minutes or a few hours. This means that they do not even have to take sick leaves to go to clinics for medical care. All they require is a smartphone and some time to describe their ailments.

Most of the times, telemedicine works, and it is speedy. Only in some particular cases when the companies refer patients to doctors if they are unable to make conclusive diagnoses or recommend any useful home tests.

It is Safe

Telemedicine for working moms eliminates the danger that comes with exposure to other patients. This is because they don’t have to go or take their kids to hospitals where they may get other infections to worsen their conditions. All they need is a room, alone or with their children. This might be at home, or the office if it is the mother who is unwell.

One may also get infections on their way to the medical facilities. Some of those that are very easy to catch include flu, colds, or any airborne diseases.

The convenience of telemedicine has seen it become unbelievably popular among working mothers. Its efficiency allows it to work even better than having to visit a health center. With its speed, moms can access quality health care within a short time. Because one doesn’t get exposed to other patients or environments, it may be the safest way to get medical help.

Today, the world of telemedicine is changing rapidly than before. The improvement of technology in recent years has led to improved patient’s quality of life and decreased time in the hospital, especially late-stage cancer patients. Telemedicine providers offer 24/7 virtual visit to doctors and access to medical care.

With the increased popularity of smartphones, a number of mobile applications have been developed to monitor patient’s health. Simple portables gadgets have been designed to monitor patient’s signs and any symptoms of looming problems, such as pain or shortness of breath.

Telemedicine enables the patient to digitally communicate with the doctors from the comfort of their homes, it starts with a phone call or video chat with a doctor who is out of reach. The patient explains their symptoms to a physician who in turn create a care plan.

You travel less

Telemedicine decreases traveling time for both health care provider and patient. Also, it reduces the number of hospital stays. Along with reduced travel time, it decreases stress related to traveling. For individuals residing in remote and inaccessible regions, telemedicine is a blessing. They can receive care from health care providers who are far off without having to travel. Moreover, minimizing face to face consultations will not only save the consultation costs but also save travel cost and time involved.

Clear advantages

As remote healthcare delivery continues to grow, patients are now being discharged from health centers early. The significance of being in familiar surroundings and away from risks, like hospital-acquired infections, implies that home care has numerous added therapeutic benefits.

One of the significances of telecare is continuous monitoring of patients. In case of a signal suggesting something is wrong, health care providers are able to recognize that signal, gather more information in a proactive manner other than in a reactive way.

Telemedicine providers play a significant role in the management of chronic diseases by allowing patients to access medical care from the comfort of their homes. They enable a patient to take control of their healthcare needs. The associated risks are next to none as it involves a one on one digital interaction between the doctor and the patient.

Conclusion

The use of telemedicine is versatile. Its advantages include;

• Great accessibility to healthcare-especially those living in remote and inaccessible areas
• Reduced visits to physician offices and emergency room due to home monitoring
• Improved health care for patients due to early treatments and diagnosis
• Support for families and patients
• Reduced hospital stay and travel

Overall, telemedicine improves access to medical care and reduced stay in hospital.

Modern technology has produced some wonderful results in the medical field, and this isn’t limited strictly to the medicines and procedures themselves. Advances in communications technology allow physicians to treat patients in far-away locations, such as an entirely different state.

This ability of physicians to remotely deliver care to patients is known as telemedicine, which falls under the wider umbrella of telehealth, which also includes such services as remote patient monitoring and even administrative functions.

Licensing

Telemedicine can be of great benefit to physicians and patients alike, but it’s important to understand the potential legal risks involved.

These risks mainly have to do with licensing. A physician can indeed use telemedicine to provide care to a patient in another state, but it is the patient’s state that determines the relevant license requirements. Physicians who want to use telemedicine to care for out-of-state patients will therefore need to make sure they have the appropriate licenses to do so.

It Pays to Be Prepared

It may be that a physician doesn’t actively seek to practice telemedicine, but the particulars of their patient pool may give rise to the need to do so.

For example, if a physician has patients who spend part of the year in another state, they may require care or advice that can only be delivered via telemedicine, and that state’s licensing rules and regulations then come into the picture.

Physicians should therefore look closely at their patient roster, to find out if it’s likely they will find end up in a situation requiring out-of-state medical licensing to practice telemedicine. They should always be aware of the exact location of any patients with whom they telecommunicate.

Legal Risks

So what are the potential legal risks involved in telemedicine? First, it is important to stress that these risks arise only in cases where physicians do not have the appropriate licenses or fail to comply with the rules and regulations of the state in question. If none of this is the case, physicians shouldn’t be worried about legal risks.

However, without the correct licensing, and without following the appropriate rules, physicians open themselves up to potentially losing their malpractice insurance coverage, and receiving fines or other punishment as outlined in state and federal law.

While many companies look to charity as a means of philanthropic tax-cuts, we here at Secure Medical have a very personal investment in the enrichment of the lives of special needs people.

Many of our own employees here are no stranger to special needs children, and as such we make a personal point to select specific causes we believe in.

The Suzy Foundation was founded by Jaime and Jeremy on the principle that children of all ages and capacities can full fill their wishes and dreams, despite the daily struggles they may encounter. They specialize in providing assistive equipment that is not typically covered under medical insurance. We here at Secure Medical believe in that principle and we strive to support the Suzy Foundation wherever we can.

Our staff here regularly volunteers their time to help enrich the lives of others. Secure Medical is whole-heartedly dedicated to the success of this foundation.

1 in 6 children ages 3-17 has one or more developmental disabilities related to learning, physical ability, language, and behavioral health. Some of these conditions can be lifelong, and some children do grow out them as well. Overall, most children display signs of difficulty or impairment at an early age.

Some symptoms may be manifested through early childhood and during periods of accelerated learning. Many of these children require additional tools and equipment to help them live and prosper in a society that simply doesn’t understand them.

Things like stereotypes, politicization, and the educational processes in the U.S. often lead to most children and parents feeling sidelined or exploited. This is where the Suzy Foundation comes in. By providing a platform by which parents can seek guidance and financial assistance in acquiring the specialized equipment parents need, the Suzy Foundation is helping more and more children bring their aspirations to fruition.

We here at Secure Medical strive to do everything we can to donate to and exemplify such an incredible organization, and we are proud to do so.

Some of us have very personal involvement with this cause. At the time of writing this, just about every single one of our employees is either currently involved in the care of, or working to help teach a child with a developmental condition, or has a family member or friend in that situation. We value the lives of these children as we do our own. We want to watch them succeed in life.

We want to watch them grow and flourish into the amazing people we know they are. We want to push them to be the very best version of themselves that they can be. We believe so strongly in this foundation because we understand the beauty of it.

As a parent that is struggling financially to take care of a special needs individual, having a place that can provide a helping hand, no matter how small, is something to be cherished and celebrated. Secure Medical has donated thousands of hours and money to the Suzy Foundation in an effort to show support and to help these children live a life of love and happiness.

The truth is, these children aren’t just people we know. They’re our brothers, they are sisters and daughters, our sons and cousins. We love them unconditionally and we support them knowing that things don’t come easy to them. We celebrate the little successes and we aim to provide a safe, comfortable environment for them to grow and learn and prosper.

The Suzy Foundation serves as a catalyst to the success of these individuals by helping parents and care-takers obtain basic needs equipment at an affordable cost. If you would like to donate to them, please visit http://www.SuzyFoundation.com

Owing to the wide array of variables involved, it can be hard to provide an accurate estimate of exactly how much telemedicine software can cost. To gain an idea about the cost, it is essential to ask questions such as – what is the scope of your practice? What is the number of users you have? How is advanced and complex the technology you’re considering? What are the features and elements of this technology?

There is a multitude of technological systems with varied features on the market; to begin narrowing down your options, it is essential to chalk out a budget for yourself and take additional costs into account (such as training for staff, extra equipment, and setup). Your budget will determine which software you select, and the features you choose for the system.

The more complex and features-laden a software is, the more expensive it will be. A system can range from anything as simple as a webcam and microphone setup to an entire setup dedicated to telemedicine, mobile devices, etc. Telemedicine software that requires minimal setup and training will obviously cost less to implement.

Medical devices specific to specialties: Devices of this sort vary as per the specialty they are required for. It is advisable to opt for a system that can be scaled later on, as in the initial launch phases you might be unclear on what exactly you might need (or what might be required later on, after the system has been established and is up and running). So, you can start with a basic setup, and then grow it later on by adding more specialties as you get a better idea about what you need to do to add greater value and dimension to your practice.

Platform for communication and video conferencing: The successful establishment of real-time remote virtual connections between doctors and patients relies on a solid, dependable, and safe platform for communicating. This is how physicians can give patients the familiar and comfortable impression of an in-person visit with a doctor.

Hardware packaging for telemedicine: Cases, carts, and wall mounts are some types of telemedicine hardware and software. The key issue for buyers is making sure the packaging is as per their requirements, although some also take aesthetics into consideration. It would be wise to opt for packaging that is modular, so a variety of specialties can be configured smoothly.

Training: The right kind of training will help your team use the system and its features correctly and to their fullest potential. Generally, two types of training are required – user training (for providers, nurses, and other staff members using the system as part of their job), and technical training (for the IT staff).

Owing to its status as a new innovation in healthcare practice, telemedicine regulations are undergoing constant change. Medical associations such as the AMA and FSMB are working on establishing guidelines for telemedicine practice, while states are working on rolling out new laws in order to sanction policies for telemedicine.

Regulations for telemedicine also define the rules for reimbursement that Medicaid and other private payers in a particular state will be expected to adhere to. In light of the sudden and steady growth of new telemedicine businesses and increasing demand among patients for virtual healthcare, the amount of legislation pertaining to telemedicine that is currently awaiting ratification is higher than ever before. Most states in America have either recently established new telemedicine laws, or are awaiting the decision for a bill that has been proposed.

Cross-state Licensing

One of the main benefits that telemedicine provides is offering patients the ability to obtain healthcare by connecting with doctors remotely, regardless of their own location or that of the healthcare provider. However, it is important to note that since providers only have a license to practice in a particular state, they can legally only offer care through telemedicine to patients residing in the same state. At the moment, 49 state medical boards have the requirement that doctors providing care via telemedicine need to be licensed in the state where their patient resides.

Obtaining Patient’s Informed Consent

In some states, it is mandatory for healthcare providers to obtain the informed consent of a patient before the provision of telemedicine services. Some laws stipulate the obtaining of written consent and others require verbal consent, while some do not require any consent at all. Whatever the laws might be in a certain state, however, it is always a good idea for providers to ensure that patients are well informed about telemedicine and fully aware of what sort of services they should expect.

Online Prescriptions

Most states have laws regarding which types of medications providers can issue e-prescriptions for, and which medicines cannot be prescribed electronically. In most cases, it is permissible to prescribe schedule III to V drugs online. However, most schedule II medicines (generally used for management of chronic pain) cannot be prescribed through telemedicine, as rules dictate that an in-person examination needs to be conducted before the prescription of such drugs.

A Pre-existing Relationship between Patient and Healthcare Provider

In several states, laws stipulate that any doctors and patients conducting a virtual visit via telemedicine need to have a pre-existing relationship. Generally, this means that the patient and doctor must have undergone at least one in-person consultation.

A key, rising issue of concern in the United States’ healthcare scenario is the fact that residents of rural areas have very limited access to healthcare. This is an issue that affects groups such as military veterans and more than 560 tribes of Native Americans throughout the country.

The healthcare scenario in Rural America
The situation of healthcare in rural areas is impacted by many factors that are not present in more central, urban areas – these include limited access to broadband internet and to technological arrangements in general, as well as a significantly high patient-to-provider ratio. As per the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), remote rural areas have 39.8 doctors per 100,000 individuals, as compared to the ratio in urban areas, which is 53.3 doctors per 100,000 people.

There are numerous other inequalities in the healthcare system in rural parts of the United States. As per the NRHA, treatment for mental health conditions is extremely low in rural areas. This is because of a lack of available mental health specialists, and a deep-rooted sense of stigma surrounding mental health problems, which prevents patients from seeking help. As a result, suicide is twice as likely among the youth in rural areas.

Remote areas also display a higher prevalence of heart diseases and diabetes; in addition, usage of tobacco is also much higher in rural areas as compared to urban areas. Added to these issues is the fact that the per capita income in rural areas is nearly $9200 less than it is in urban areas. Combined, all these factors point toward a healthcare pandemic in the rural areas of the United States.

Using Telemedicine as leverage
Admittedly, telemedicine is not a panacea that will bring about an end to all the healthcare problems plaguing rural America. However, telemedicine does have the capability to even out the patient-to-physician ratio and improve rural area residents’ access to healthcare. It is a feasible alternative healthcare option for those living in the more remote areas of the United States.

As per a Health Data Management article authored by Greg Slabodkin, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted interviews with Medicaid officials from 6 different states, and the findings revealed that levels of telemedicine use a higher in rural areas as compared to the more urban areas. The auditors from the GAO discovered that in the rural state of Montana, for example, telemedicine is used to connect patients to specialists not only within the state but out-of-state too.

Medicaid programs, unlike Medicare, are run by the state – as such, they are subject to state laws regarding the practice of telemedicine. Owing to this, the reimbursement of services provided via telemedicine depends largely on the policy of a particular state.

As per a recent report by the Center for Connected Health Policy, this is a brief summary of the situation for Medicaid’s telemedicine reimbursement across the United States:
46 state Medicaid programs offer coverage for live video
9 state Medicaid programs provide coverage for telemedicine services provided via store-and-forward
14 state Medicaid programs provide coverage for RPM (Remote Patient Monitoring)
Just 3 state Medicaid programs (MN, MS, AK) cover all three telemedicine types
26 state Medicaid programs reimburse a transmission or facility fee (or both).

In order to conduct thorough research on telemedicine, it is essential to have a reliable source of information.

The following are three excellent sources for keeping tabs on Medicaid’s telemedicine coverage:

The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center. They have created a highly useful interactive state-wise map of telehealth policy.
State Medicaid agency websites. If you don’t know the website for your state’s Medicaid agency, here is a complete directory.

The American Telemedicine Association. The ATA regularly tracks policy updates for telemedicine and publishes quarterly reports on the latest news and situation of state legislation for telemedicine.

You can find the latest report here.

Factors that impact Medicaid’s telemedicine reimbursement. The rules and regulations for telemedicine reimbursement are different in each state and are not always completely clear. The following are some factors that can have an impact on your reimbursement for telemedicine via Medicaid:
Eligible providers (NPs, PAs)

Health Services covered
Is cross-state medical licensing permitted?
Is a pre-existing provider-patient relationship required?
Are there any location-specific limitations on providers or patients?
The kind of fee that needs to be reimbursed (facility, transmission, or both)
CPT codes that are applicable

Although many states are working on the expansion of reimbursement for telehealth, others are still set on containing and limiting the delivery of telehealth services. While each state has its own unique laws, rules and Medicaid program policies, there are certain similar trends which come to light if several policies are scrutinized. For instance, Medicaid reimbursement for live video is more frequent than reimbursement for remote monitoring of patients and store-and-forward.

The time period between 2013 to 2015 saw steady growth and upward trends in reimbursement for store-and-forward and remote monitoring of patients; however, this growing number has currently reached a sudden halt, and remains the same as it was at the time our last report was published, in July 2015. However, there are some promising signs – although some states are not moving forward on telehealth, others are progressing in this regard.

In Washington, for example, the Medicaid program now provides some reimbursement for services delivered via store-and-forward. On the other hand, the Medicaid program in Oklahoma has stopped reimbursement for store-and-forward. These differing policies point at a wider issue regarding the unpredictable nature of policies throughout the country.

Some key findings are as follows:
• As it was the previous year, 47 states and Washington DC offer reimbursement for certain types of live video through Medicaid fee-for-service. Iowa’s Medicaid program established that they do offer reimbursement for live video; however, the telemedicine policy for Utah is not available, which means Utah cannot be included in the list of states that provide reimbursement for live video. Owing to this, the number of states that offer reimbursement for telemedicine services remains the same as last year.

• As mentioned previously, Oklahoma’s Medicaid program does not provide reimbursement for store-and-forward anymore, while Washington’s Medicaid program now does so. So, the number of states that reimburse for store-and-forward continues to be a total of nine. This number does not include states that provide reimbursement only for teleradiology.

• Since July 2015, no changes have been observed in state Medicaid programs’ provision of reimbursement for remote patient monitoring; it continues to be in effect in 16 states.

• Five Medicaid programs, for the states of Washington, Minnesota, Alaska, Mississippi and Illinois, provide reimbursement for all three, although this is subject to certain restrictions. This has increased by one since July 2015.