3 states earn failing grade when it comes to telemedicine

Dallas – In the past two years, 25 states have revised their professional standards and licensure requirements in response to providers offering health services via telemedicine, according to a health briefing filed by Jennifer Vermeulen for the National Center for Policy Analysis on Thursday. And in 2014 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services changed its fee schedule to encourage more telehealth practices. 

 

The American Telemedicine Association awarded 22 states an “A” for regulations governing telemedicine providers-patient encounters, Vermeulen reported. However, three states — Texas, Alabama and Arkansas — got an F. 

 

According to the report, Arkansas and Texas are the only states that require patients to have an established relationship with a physician prior to a telemedicine encounter. And Texas, Alabama and Georgia are alone among states in requiring an in-office follow-up visit after a telemedicine encounter.

 

Facing a rapidly-growing population, the Texas Medical Board, instead of embracing an innovative technology that increases patient access to medical care, has taken a “strong stand against telemedicine,” stated NCPA senior fellow Devon Herrick, who managed the report research. “The Texas Medical Board took deliberate steps to protect local providers from competition.”

 

Texas, in particular, may benefit from increasing access to care by way of telemedicine. The state’s growing population of 25 million is served by 18,000 primary care physicians, and 95 of the state’s 254 counties have fewer than 10 doctors; 54 of those counties have fewer than 5 licensed physicians. 

 

Strong population growth has left nearly 13% of the state’s population medically underserved, meaning that an individual’s circumstances make it difficult to either access or afford health care services. 

 

“Worldwide, the use of telemedicine to treat patients is expected to grow to 7 million by 2018 - up 20 fold from 2013 levels,” Herrick said. “With the population of Texas projected to double by 2050, limiting telemedicine patients and providers is a blow to the future of health care in Texas.”