Recent News Regarding Your Doctor Online and Advances in Telemedicine

Posted 03-14-2009 3:36 am by
Since December of 2007, things have really been heating up with regard to Your Doctor Online, Telemedicine and E-Visits. We believe what triggered the flood of news articles was the decision by Aetna Inc. in the later weeks of December 2007 to reimburse doctors for a patient’s doctor online visit.

Whether the online doctor consultation is a follow-up to a previous office visit or you are looking for an online doctor consultation and prescription for minor ailments such as sore throats and colds, Aetna is prepared to move into the 21st century in the best interest of their patients.

Following Aetna Inc. decision and announcement, Cigna Corp. did the same, acknowledging online doctor consultations and prescriptions and agreeing to reimburse for these consults and follow-ups.

At that time, it was anticipated that the other large ‘Blue’ insurers would follow according to experts.

Then in April 2008, the Orlando Sentinel’s Staff Writer, Harry Wessel, published a story regarding the same topic. Here is an excerpt:

“Fighting a nasty cough from bronchitis a few months back, Antoinette Steinert knew she needed to see her doctor.

Only she didn't actually want to see him.

Not only would that have meant nearly an hour's round-trip drive from her Port St. John home to Dr. Frank Dienst's Titusville office. It also would have meant time sitting in his waiting room "and being around people who are sick," said Steinert, a registered nurse who, when she's well, works at Cape Canaveral Hospital.

As it happened, Steinert got what she needed without going near Dr. Dienst or his waiting room.

Sitting at her home computer in the evening after work, she spent 10 minutes on a secure Web site answering the same kind of questions Dienst would have asked her during an office visit.

The next morning, she not only had heard back from her doctor, she had the prescription antibiotic and cough medicine that he had called in to her nearby pharmacy.

The cost to her for the online consultation: zero. Her insurance company, Cigna, paid Dienst $35 for the virtual office visit, and under her health plan Steinert had no co-pay (compared with a $20 co-pay for an office visit). "I'm not into computers," said Steinert, 57. "But this was easy. It's a good idea."

It's a good idea for doctors, too, said Dienst, who is among the first physicians in Central Florida to conduct online, reimbursed consultations with patients.

With three major health-insurance plans now reimbursing physicians for online consultations, Dienst expects he'll soon have plenty of company.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida has reimbursed a limited number of online visits for nearly four years, with roughly 1,000 doctors now capable of offering the service. But it's been slow to catch on, with Blue Cross officials estimating the total number of monthly online visits statewide at about 50, with fewer than a dozen being submitted for reimbursement.

"We might have gotten in too early," acknowledged Lynn Monson, the company's director of health-information technology. "But, by gum, we're ready for tomorrow. We see this taking off."

One reason for Monson's optimism is that two other major health insurers, Cigna and Aetna, announced in December they would go national with reimbursements for virtual house calls.“

For more articles and information on this innovative concept please visit http://www.connected-health.org/programs/e-visits.aspx.

This is exciting news for the online doctor consultation and prescription industry. The more press that can be generated to get the word out the better! But these instances have to do with patients who already have health insurance with a major carrier. At KoolDocs.com, we cater to the individual that may not have health insurance or who is insured with an insurance company that does not yet embrace the concept of the online doctor consultation and prescription. For many college students, they are no longer eligible for coverage under their parent’s policies and cannot afford health insurance on their own. KoolDocs.com is perfect for this type of individual who wants to take advantage of the doctor online concept. Another individual that would benefit from our doctor online visit would be someone on Medi-cal or Medicare. Regardless of how you jumped onto our site, we are happy to have you and would be happy to help with your doctor online visit needs. Simply click on the “Request a Consult” button to get started.

Need an Online Doctor? go to www.KoolDocs.com Your #1 Source for Online Medical Consultations and Online Prescriptions.

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