Health Care - New Michigan Laws Cover Telemedicine Technologies in Health Care Professional/Patient Care: “The Doctor will see you now.”

August 6, 2012

In this issue:

New Michigan Laws Cover Telemedicine Technologies in Health Care Professional/Patient Care: "The Doctor will see you now."

Michigan health care professionals and their patients have a new option for office visits and even hospital care: telemedicine. On June 28, 2012, Governor Snyder approved two laws that give health professionals and patients insurance coverage if they use new telemedicine technology to diagnose and treat medical issues and for patient education. Formerly, professionals and patients had to see each other in person before private insurance would pay for all or part of the visit. In approving telemedicine encounters, patients insured by Blue Cross/Blue Shield Michigan, HMOs and private insurers, join Michigan Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries in having increased access to covered health services. Virtual office visits may occur in patients' homes. Patients may receive care in hospitals by physicians far away who are virtually rounding. This new opportunity gives greater meaning to "the doctor will see you now." These care giving methods have the potential to revolutionize the way in which care is delivered to the elderly, individuals with mobility issues, those in rural areas and virtually everyone else. According to Telemedicine.com, Inc., the top three uses of telemedicine currently are radiology, dermatology and psychiatry.

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