By Vasilios J. Kalogredis

The Coronavirus pandemic has increased the focus on ways for patients to see physicians without having to have in person visits in every instance.

Healthcare practitioners and patients need to seriously consider how telehealth can best serve their respective needs during these unprecedented times.

Things are fluid.  The right answer for tomorrow may very well be different from today’s.  Covid-19 has caused the government and many private insurers to expand access to and payment for telehealth services.

Effective for services rendered on or after March 6, 2020 [through the public health emergency time frame] patients outside of rural areas and patients in their homes (or other settings) became eligible for Medicare paid-for telehealth services.  Before then, only patients in rural areas and at specified facilities could benefit from this.

Listed providers of such services include physicians, physician assistants, certified nurse anesthetists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, registered dieticians, and nutritionists.

For more detailed and updated information click here.

Private insurers, such as Independence Blue Cross (“IBC”), have expanded access to care to their respective members.  For example, on March 21, 2020, I was notified of changes to my IBC benefits, to be effective immediately and until June 4, 2020.

Among the improvements to access were “Talk to a doctor 24/7;” “Doctor visits from home” (by telemedicine); and telemedicine access to emotional support.

We encourage all employers, patients and healthcare providers to look into telehealth benefits that may be available to them. Talk to your payer of healthcare benefits. Talk to your healthcare providers. Together needed access to healthcare will be available with as little coronavirus exposure as possible under the circumstances.

As fewer “in person” visits are taking place, telehealth is becoming more important than ever for patients seeking timely and quality care.

For up to date information from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services click here.

Lamb McErlane PC can help with any questions you may have regarding Telemedicine. Contact us at 610-430-8000. www.lambmcerlane.com.

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Vasilios J. “Bill” Kalogredis has been advising physicians, dentists, and other health care professionals and their businesses for over 40 years. 

He is Chairman of Lamb McErlane PC’s Health Law Department.  bkalogredis@lambmcerlane.com; phone, 610-701-4402.