Most people hesitate when they
are required to visit the doctor for getting treatment for their health
problems. Even a couple of decades ago it was illogical to even think that any
disease could be cured without making a visit to the medical health center. But
what was once a dream has now become a reality as you can consult a doctor through
your laptop, smartphone or similar other gadgets having audio and video
conferencing facility. The approach is getting popular with every passing day
and it is not long when the concept of physical visits to the clinic will
become a thing of the past.
Is Telemedicine covered by health insurance?
One of the first things that come
to the mind when thinking of Telemedicine is whether it covered under health
insurance. Well, this mostly depends on the locations where such service is
provided, the type of service provided and the status of the payer. There is no
set standard regarding telemedicine for private health insurance companies.
While some companies calculate the value of the service provided and pay for it
others recommend for a reimbursement. For insurance companies which do not have
proper reimbursement policies regarding telemedicine, prior approval is
necessary for getting reimbursement of the same. To encourage telemedicine
services, some states include parity laws to ensure that insurance companies
reimburse at the same rate as they do for in-person medical services.
Benefits of Telemedicine service
Most people of the modern era
have embraced the concept of telemedicine due to the several benefits that it
provides to its users. People nowadays have access to a high-speed internet
connection and the devices necessary for conducting telemedicine service. This
enables them to make the most out of such an advanced facility like Telemedicine New York. Some of the
reasons for its high popularity among patients include –
(I)
Extended access to specialized medical service
Patients residing in rural and
remote areas get the benefit of access to faster and more convenient specialist
service. There are only 43 specialists for every 100,000 rural patients in the
US who have to wait for long hours in the queue before they get attention for
chronic ailments and specific diseases. The introduction of Telemedicine has
been able to bridge the gap between the patients and the doctor by increasing
the reach of medical professionals and technology through audio or video
conferencing.
(II)
Savings in healthcare expense
Through the process of remote
analysis and electronic storage of medical data, it has been possible to cut
down the healthcare service cost to a great extent. This not only saves money
for the patients but also the service provider and the insurance companies as
well. Telemedicine service also reduces the need for urgent ER visits and
elimination of transportation expenses for daily checkups.
(III)
Better patient care service
The concept of Telemedicine
in New York has been developed for providing better quality medical
services to those in need. With real-time assistance patients can get their medical
issues resolved immediately, especially those requiring emergency service. Studies
also reveal that since patients are able to get treatment from home it results
in reduced anxiety, depression, and stress associated with on-clinic checkups.
(IV)
Convenient for elderly and childcare
It becomes quite a daunting task
when it comes to taking children and elderly people for a visit to the doctor.
The pangs of such a clinic visit can be eliminated through the proper
implementation of telemedicine facility. Not only it becomes a cost-effective
option but also enables regular consultation with the doctor thereby upholding
the family responsibilities.
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