- First Hands Health
The doctor will see you now...how to prepare for your next telemedicine visit.
The coronavirus pandemic quickly changed our day to day lives and has given rise to an increase in doctor appointments being administered through telecommunication. This is particularly true for individuals who are managing a chronic illness since skipping a doctor's appointment or delaying a visit to the lab for bloodwork may not be an option for them.
Telemedicine platforms are a vital tool for many specialties including family medicine, gastroenterology, dermatology, neurology, and psychiatry is not only essential to deliver healthcare to patients but also to keep less critical patients out of urgent care centers and emergency rooms that are already struggling to care for COVID-19 patients with limited resources.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) defines telehealth as "the use of electronic information and telecommunication technologies to promote and support long-distance clinical healthcare..." This encompasses all modalities from videoconferencing, audio-only telephone calls, emails, text messaging, smartphone healthcare apps, and wearable sensors to transmit information.
New legislation has allowed HHS to relax telemedicine rules and improve physician accessibility. Medicare will now pay for 80% of services given via telehealth, including audio-only phone visits. Insurance billing guidelines and codes have been modified to allow healthcare providers to be compensated for these visits to some degree. Some plans are even waiving copays. These options are not just limited to physicians. Your physical therapist (PT)/occupational therapist (OT)/speech therapist (ST), psychologist (PsyD), therapist (LCSW), etc can also conduct telehealth visits with you. Contact your insurance directly ahead of time to ensure your visit is covered.
While technological savvy is embedded in the DNA of younger population, it is not quite as natural for many older folks to navigate these unchartered waters, particularly our elderly population who may have multiple conditions and need to see a doctor every few weeks to follow up on a diagnosis, get bloodwork done, or refill medications.
Follow these simple guidelines to best prepare for your upcoming telemedicine appointment:⠀
