By Lance O. Leider, J.D., The Health Law Firm
The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) recently announced that it was accepting a limited number of applications for its telemedicine provider accreditation program. According to the ATA the purpose of the accreditation is to recognize organizations that provide top-notch online health care services. The ATA calls the service its “Accreditation Program for Online Patient Consultations.”
Details on ATA’s Accreditation Program.
Eligibility to register and apply for accreditation is aimed at any United States based organization that provides real-time interactive doctor-patient interactions via live online video services. Currently the ATA is not certifying so-called “store-and-forward” providers. However, this may be a possibility in the future as this technology becomes more widely used.
The ATA’s standards for the accreditation program are modeled after those found in state and federal laws and regulations, industry best practices, and input from the community. The primary focus is on robust policies and procedures, appropriate areas of practice (i.e. online treatment is appropriate for the illness), and patient health and safety.
Telemedicine Laws Different in Every State.
As with any health care good or service, the rules and regulations differ widely from state to state and with federal payors like Medicare. It is important to check your state medical board’s rules and opinions on telemedicine to avoid disciplinary action for inadvertently violating the medical practice act or some other applicable regulation.
Also note some states that permit telemedicine still require the physician to be licensed in the state in which the patient resides. Before engaging in telemedicine services, you should also look at the regulations in the states in which your patients are located to see if you need to have a license. Being accredited, while certainly a step in the right direction, will not necessarily exempt you from compliance with the law.
There has been a recent push to expand the scope of telemedicine services that are payable by Medicare. If these efforts are successful, there will undoubtedly be a spike in the number of providers offering remote services. Additionally, many private insurers have been piloting programs to see if the purported savings offered by telemedicine actually reduce the cost of claims.
Comments?
What do you think about the ATA’s accreditation program? Where do you think telemedicine will be in five years? Please leave any thoughtful comments below.
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About the Author: Lance O. Leider is an attorney with The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Avenue, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.
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