4 Lingering Concerns About Telemedicine

When you are sick or in need of medical advice, do you head to your doctor’s office for an appointment, or do you pick up your smartphone or log on to your computer? More and more people are opting to “see” a doctor for common illnesses and prescriptions through something known as telemedicine – a remote consultation using a phone app or online through a personal computer or tablet.

Telemedicine has reached a pivotal turning point, having grown more popular over the last few years, despite the lingering concerns of some potential patients who have yet to try it.

For anyone just learning about how it works, one of the fist things they should know is that telemedicine has been backed by several widely-used health plans, including Cigna Inc. In fact, 15 million people tapped into this innovative, time-saving method to get medical advice and treatment in 2014.

That figure represents a 50 % increase over the previous year, according to the Telemedicine Association, clearly showing that today’s patient wants faster, more convenient ways to see a doctor and obtain treatment.

The Survey Says

Like any other new trend, it takes time to create awareness, understanding, and acceptance, and for people to trust something enough to give it a try. But more and more patients and their doctors are accessing the benefits of telemedicine, according to recent surveys. Hospitals (and insurance companies) have shown their support, mainly because it reduces hospital stays and cuts costs. The average cost of an online consultation is $50, versus an average of $80 for an office visit.

A report by the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), states that 20% to 30% of face-to-face visits could be achieved in alternative, non-face-to-face venues. According to findings from a survey by Foley & Lardner, the “2014 Telemedicine Survey Executive Summary,” 90% of health plan leaders report that they have already begun developing or implementing a telemedicine program.

In terms of the types of telemedicine being offered, 64% used remote monitoring, 52% used real-time interaction services, and 54% used store-and-forward technology, which involves the acquisition and storing of clinical information (e.g. data, image, sound, video) that is then forwarded to (or retrieved by) another site for clinical evaluation.

4 Top Concerns People Still Have About Telemedicine

But some patients, and a few doctors, still have questions and concerns. Here are the key talk-points and how they are being addressed by telemedicine:

Quality of Service: Telemedicine has particular benefits for people who use it, such as access to remote or hard to see specialists and well as faster access to primary care. This means that the quality of service you receive may be better than if you settled for a doctor close-by or waited for a hard to get an appointment. In the case of specialized conditions, it not only allows patients in rural or underserved area to gain access to a qualified specialist quickly, it enables hospitals to expand their ability to reach more patients in need of service.

Overall Costs: Telemedicine incites some skepticism from patients about billing charges and how much more these types of services will end up costing them. But to the contrary, insurance company, Aetna, estimates that those patients who fully participated in its telemedicine program over the six-month study period saved about $864,000 per patient. How? Think of it this way: If you avoid going to the emergency room or being admitted to the hospital because of the preventative care you received, then you have saved the associated costs of those expensive services. So having fast easy access to preventative care actually can save you a lot of money in hospital bills.

Reimbursement Challenges: Reimbursement for telemedicine services still remains to be a challenge for many people. Of the patients surveyed, 21 % said they received a lower reimbursement for costs from managed care companies for any telemedicine encounters versus face-to-face appointments, and 41% said they receive no compensation at all for telemedicine encounters.

There was also a concern for about 20 % of those polled about Medicare coverage of telemedicine services, and 50 % of people expressed concern over convincing physicians that there was credibility to telemedicine, and that they would be appropriately compensated if they utilized it for their patients.

There are some regulations already in place that address this issue, and more are potentially on their way. Telemedicine is covered by Medicaid in more than 40 states and 24 states now mandate private insurer reimbursement for telemedicine services. Also, more than 21 states require reimbursement rates to be the same for telemedicine as they are for in-person office visits with a doctor or specialist.

According to a review by PwC, the federal government expanded its Medicare reimbursements for telehealth in 2014 to include greater coverage of chronic care, and new allowances for annual wellness visits and psychotherapy. Congress has designated funding, some $26 million, to support telemedicine programs in rural communities, and state lawmakers have more than 100 bills before them related to requiring private payers and Medicaid to cover telehealth services.

Privacy and Security: In 1996, Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This legislation sought to improve the efficiency of electronic health record systems while protecting patient’s rights by reducing instances of information fraud and abuse. This privacy assurance is required for telemedicine well, but the natural concern of most patients is that more people will have access to their medical records through the electronic systems.

So, how are a patients records kept secure and private via telemedicine channels? These concerns can be alleviated by way of thorough technical and administrative security measures. Protocols must be scrupulously followed to ensure that patients are informed about all participants in a telemedicine consultation and that the privacy and confidentiality of the patient are maintained, as well as ensuring the integrity of any data/images transmitted. The telemedicine programs must meet all HIPPA and federal regulations to ensure patient privacy and security of records.

At eDrugstore, we use telemedicine and online medical consultations to increase patient access to medications and healthcare. Telemedicine is popular among patients looking for an affordable and convenient way to address common health concerns, without being required to have a face-to-face doctor’s appointment for a physical examination. Instead, you are sent a secure online medical questionnaire that will be reviewed by a US-licensed physician.

For your safety, it is required that we ask about your last physical examination before dispensing your medication. An online medical consultation is a great choice for patients seeking treatment for non-life threatening conditions – including male impotence and hair loss – since these conditions typically don’t necessitate an immediate visit to your doctor’s office.

eDrugstore.com has been using this patient-friendly way to improve healthcare delivery since 1998. We are dedicated to our patients and strive to meet and exceed all regulations pertaining to telemedicine.

We only work with US-licensed physicians and pharmacists that dispense authentic, FDA-approved medications. Every pill we sell is purchased through a reputable pharmaceutical wholesaler located in the US, or obtained directly from the manufacturer. That means that when you order from eDrugstore, you’re getting the exact same medication you could get at your local pharmacy.

Patient Privacy Matters

Privacy is a vital part of telemedicine, so we protect customer information using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and advanced data encryption. All personal information is kept in a secure database with restricted permissions – the physician handling your case is the only person who can gain access to your confidential medical history. Our customer service team can only view your basic information, which includes your name, address, and contact number. We will never share any of your information with a third party, unless required by law.

Since 1998, eDrugstore.com has helped more than 500,000 customers gain access to prescription medications, and offered professional, private telemedicine services, which is ideal for patients looking for a convenient way to address common health concerns, like male impotence, discretely and securely.