Telehealth

Senate Bill 675 was passed in the 2010 Virginia General Assembly session to expand access to telehealth services. Generally, telehealth is defined as specific and direct patient care provided using telecommunications technology such as interactive audio, video or other electronic media for the purpose of diagnosis, consultation, or treatment. The new Virginia law requires that health plans and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) reimburse health care providers for health care services rendered through telemedicine, just like they would if there was a face-to-face meeting.

Telehealth is an important tool to improve timely access to care. In rural areas or high traffic urban areas, telehealth offers physicians and patients access to high quality and cost effective medical and consultative services.  

Resources

Virginia Telehealth Network (ehealthvirginia.org)

Part B telemedicine services (trailblazerhealth.com)
 
American Telemedicine Association (americantelemed.org)

CMS Medicare Learning Network fact sheet on telehealth services (cms.gov)

Coding telehealth services (msv.org)