The American College of Physicians has taken a position that shouldn't be much of a surprise. It's suggesting that payers should reimburse physicians for added work needed to take part in new digital relationships, including using and analyzing PHRs, and conducting online communications with patients.
In a new report, the internal medicine group argues that physicians should be reimbursed for time spent accepting, reviewing, validating and analyzing PHR data, as well as responding to or modifying the records' contents. The group would also like to see payers reimburse doctors for reviewing websites to select for accurate sources of consumer health information.
Along with seeking pay for physicians conducting e-health activities, the ACP is also recommending the use of secure web messaging infrastructure (rather than standard email) for use in communications between doctors and patients.
To learn more about the ACP's proposals:
- read this report [1] (.pdf)
- read this Modern Healthcare piece [2] (reg. req.)
Related Articles:
Trend: Health plans begin reimbursing for 'virtual visits' [3]
Insurers keep getting on Web visit bandwagon [4]
Physicians offer "e-care" [5]
Study: MD e-mails could drain physician income [6]
Links:
[1] http://www.acponline.org/advocacy/where_we_stand/policy/ehealth.pdf
[2] http://modernhealthcare.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080516/REG/314430354
[3] http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/trend-health-plans-begin-reimbursing-virtual-visits/2007-10-22
[4] http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/insurers-keep-getting-on-web-visit-bandwagon/2008-04-07?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss
[5] http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/physicians-offer-e-care/2006-11-27
[6] http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/study-md-emails-could-drain-physician-income/2007-07-09