Forcing insurance companies to pay for telemedicine appointments could bring specialized health care to all parts of Minnesota, hospital officials and lawmakers say.
While some health insurance policies already pay for telemedicine, the use of technology to allow a distance health care professional to examine a patient, state legislation announced Wednesday would require all policies to provide reimbursement.
“Let’s get medicine into the 21st century,” Dr. Jon Pryor, CEO of Hennepin County Medical Center, pleaded.
A Senate bill co-sponsored by Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Vernon Center, and Kent Eken, DFL-Twin Valley, would change that. It has support in the Minnesota House from Rep. Tara Mack, R-Apple Valley, and Jennifer Schultz, DFL-Duluth.
If their proposal passes, Minnesota would join 22 other states and the District of Columbia by mandating coverage for medical care delivered via electronic networks. The Minnesota Hospital Association, which is backing the bill, says it would bring scarce specialists to rural locations and save money “in the long run” by making it more convenient for people to get care before a health problem escalates into an emergency.
Medical specialists are scarce in nonmetro Minnesota, but patients can access them in local clinics or even from home via computer or other video connections.
Mandy Bell of Avera Health, with 15 southwestern Minnesota clinics, said that forcing insurance coverage would further increase telemedicine availability and improve health care.
Up to 30 percent of telemedicine patients say they would not receive health care if not for telemedicine, Bell said.
Maureen Ideker, who works in western Minnesota for Duluth-based Essentia Health, gave an example of someone who would benefit from telemedicine as a diabetic who needs weight-control help. That service may not be available in parts of rural Minnesota, she said, but it could be provided via technology.
Ideker said that insurance does not cover assisted living and group home residents, but would under the bill, allowing them to stay home or near home for medical services.
Health professionals said it is difficult to transport disabled or sick Minnesotans to specialists, while it would be much easier if they could stay in their home communities.
“It alleviates a lot of provider shortages we are seeing,” Rosen said.
Shortages of rural health care professionals likely will grow, Eken added. Expanded use of telemedicine could help the problem, he said.
“We want to make sure people in rural Minnesota have the same quality of life,” he said.
Schultz said telemedicine is more convenient than making long drives.
“We really need to get to the point where we have patient-centered care,” Schultz said.
Bill supporter Rep. Jeff Backer, R-Browns Valley, said he has been a volunteer emergency medical technician for nearly 20 years and has seen firsthand local hospital personnel communicating with Fargo, N.D., doctors when treating patients.
Date: February 25, 2015