Licensing, financing seen as barriers to telemedicine
Regulatory issues such as state-by-state licensing continue to be a serious hurdle in the expansion of telemedicine, according to a survey of clinicians using the technology.
The authors, from two California hospitals, asked telemedicine users from 63 facilities across the country about seven topics related to barriers to implementing telemedicine. "Respondents proclaimed that [telemedicine's] success was still hampered by licensing, credentialing, and malpractice protection, as well as costs, billing, and reimbursement issues," the authors reported.
Licensing was a key problem, with 61% agreeing or strongly agreeing that out-of-state licensing was a barrier to implementation. Reimbursement also was cited, with 73.3% agreeing or strongly agreeing that government reimbursement is a barrier to implementation.
"The majority of all respondents indicated that cultural issues did not constitute meaningful hurdles, technological matters were generally favorable, and that most personnel were agreeable to both achieving the buy-in to start a [telemedicine] program and to maintaining [it] once started," the report says.
When asked to name the most significant motives for implementing telemedicine programs, the respondents cited providing clinical support (84%), maintaining patient satisfaction (80%), achieving immediate patient access (69.5%), overcoming service gaps (60%) and improving quality (59%).
The authors recommend more flexible credentialing and interstate licensing regulations, as well as improved payment models for telemedicine. They also urge more telemedicine training and education for physicians that includes information about the benefits of telemedicine, including safety, efficacy, and improved outcomes.
An abstract is available at no charge at http://tinyurl.com/84jfvs5.
Regulatory issues such as state-by-state licensing continue to be a serious hurdle in the expansion of telemedicine, according to a survey of clinicians using the technology.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content