Last week we got into detail about the word ‘Telemedicine’. This week, we are taking it a step further and talking about the difference between ‘Telehealth’ and ‘Telemedicine’. Telehealth and Telemedicine may appear to be very similar, but there are some important differences. Telehealth is the more general term and means the electronic transfer of medical information for the purpose of patient care. This includes clinical, educational and administrative uses and applications. Telemedicine is specifically the use of these technologies to deliver patient care services.
Watch this short video with gpTRAC expert Zoi Hils for a more detailed explanation of when to use which!
For more videos that answer to the most commonly asked Telemedicine questions visit gpTRAC on YouTube here.
gpTRAC is launching a Q&A video series with our very own Zoi Hills!
In this episode Zoi discusses two of our most frequently asked questions having to do with Minnesota Medicaid Reimbursement. Do you have other questions you would like answered by Zoi? Click comment under this post to let us know, and we will get back to you!
FAQ #1: What services are payable by Minnesota Medicaid?
Answer: The Minnesota Medicaid policy covers all telemedicine services delivered by a physician whose opinion or advice has been delivered at the request of another provider. This includes services using live interactive video and store-and-forward.
FAQ #2: What is required for reimbursement of telemedicine services by Minnesota Medicaid?
Answer: There are two main requirements for reimbursement according to Minnesota Medicaid. They are:
1. The patient has to be located in an “Eligible Originating Site” which includes:
-Provider’s office
-Hospital
-Critical Access Hospital
-Skill Nursing Facility
-Clinic
-Federally Qualified Health Center
-Community Mental Health Center
-Renal Dialysis Center
2. The services have to be provided by an “eligible provider” as defined by Minnesota Medicaid. For mental health services, all enrollable mental healthcare professionals are considered “eligible providers” for reimbursement. For non-mental health services, only a specialty physician and oral surgeon are considered “eligible providers” for reimbursement.
Also of note: Minnesota Medicaid reimbursement for telemedicine services does not differentiate between rural and urban settings, which means the patient can be located at a rural or urban facility.
While Wainhouse Research does not specifically focus on healthcare-related issues, their newsletter does feature many of the companies and products/concepts that we use (or could use in the future) within the field of telehealth. The opening story for the most recent issue (last week of November) talks about a company’s use of mobile/wireless technology…also of interest is a new “videophone” product.
The University of Minnesota Academic Health Center has conducted five years of teledermatology screening and pulmonary function testing at the annual Minnesota State Fair. Each year, more than 500 fairgoers participate in this telehealth demonstration. This demonstration at the Minnesota State Fair is a valuable public service that serves an effective role in identifying serious disease conditions that warrant further evaluation and educates the public about the merits of telehealth evaluations.
