American Well, which offers telehealth to more than 100 million people, is unveiling an online marketplace where health plan customers will be able to choose from a menu of doctors.
This got my attention. Where’s my teleheatlh! 100 million already have it?
[gview file=”https://publicservicesalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/American-Well-Will-Allow-Telemedicine-Patients-to-Pick-Their-Doctor-The-New-York-Times.pdf”]But some insurers, including Medicare, are reluctant to pay for a virtual visit, and regulatory questions are swirling over whether doctors should be able to care for patients across state lines.
There are also concerns that people may use the services for conditions that they would normally treat themselves, like a sore throat, meaning that the visit is an extra expense, not a savings.
Critics also question the quality of care, worrying that it could be easier to misdiagnose a condition if a patient is not physically with the doctor or nurse.