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Skype

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Laniesa:
I was wondering if any of your physicians were using Skype? One if my clients is a psychiatrist and was wanting to know. Also, he was wondering if he could treat patients from another state on Skype or would that be practicing across state line?

PMRNC:
Opinion:  I'd never want a physician who wanted to "skype" me. LOL

There are guidelines for online visits, medicare does not pay for them but I'm pretty sure the guidelines are meant over a secure means of communications such as a chat environment that is on a secure server. I'm pretty sure SKYPE is not a valid means of patient care. Most of the carriers that are paying for online are being reimbursed mainly for med checks, email communication, or mental health therapy when a patient cannot be seen at their office.

Laniesa:
Well that is exactly what he wants...he has mental patients that cannot leave their house. It is not intended to be his primary way of treatment.

Michele:
I am familiar with Skype but do not have any providers who use it in their practice.  I am familiar with providers who provider telemedicine services but I do not know if Skype qualifies for that.  I know with regular telemedicine (I am not familiar with the method they use to communicate, but I know it's not Skype) the insurance carriers consider it 'face to face' treatment since the provider and the patient can see each other while they are speaking.  I guess I would recommend contacting a couple of the major insurance carriers he pars with (if he does) and ask.

I'd be interested to hear the answer.

Michele

PMRNC:
Yes I would call the carriers too, and I too would be interested in their response.

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