Telemedicine to the rescue in Tennessee
Tennessee recently passed a law that requires private health insurance plans and the state’s Medicaid managed care plans to pay for telemedicine services in the same way they pay for health care services being provided in person. Although there were many considerations behind the law, on a very simple level, it just makes good sense.
Tennessee recently passed a law that requires private health insurance plans and the state's Medicaid managed care plans to pay for telemedicine services in the same way they pay for health care services being provided in person. Although there were many considerations behind the law, on a very simple level, it just makes good sense.
While there are parts of Tennessee that are rich in health care resources, other parts of the state need improved access to care. The easiest way to connect the residents of those areas with health care resources is through telemedicine.
The health care industry in Nashville directly employs 110,000 people, making it the largest and fastest growing employer in the city. There are 250 health care companies with operations in the city, and more than 300 firms with expertise in health law and in health care accounting and finance.
At the same time, Tennessee has 105 designated Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), and the primary care needs of 26.7% of Tennessee's population are not being met.
By reimbursing health care providers the same way, whether they provide services in person or through telemedicine, the new law may encourage health care providers to offer services to patients in these underserved areas in the state. The booming health care industry in other parts of the state can provide needed support by providing technological, legal, and financial expertise on telemedicine.
The health care access issues faced by Tennessee are not unique. Many states have an even larger unmet need for primary care. Telemedicine offers a possible solution that lets states shift health care resources across regions electronically. States with strong health care industries could even use telemedicine to export their health care resources to other states.
Laws like the one in Tennessee and coordination among states around telemedicine are major steps in connecting those with health care needs to those with health care resources.
-----
Have a health care question or frustration? Share your story »