What is Telemedicine and How does it Work?

Telemedicine is not for every problem; however, it is appropriate for acute concerns, quick medical questions, or quick follow-ups… If your problem falls around these categories, please schedule an appointment. We can’t wait to help you. The person and physician share a teleconference and the Provider answers all questions and conducts an exam. If further testing is needed, we will coordinate with your primary care to take appropriate action and perhaps see you in person.

Telemedicine visits are charged as a personal visit, not as a specialist visit which would be significantly more expensive. Fees for person visits vary as they do across the entire medical field; however, normally personal visits range from $30-60 depending on co-insurance. We follow the standard person office fee schedule at our location which is subject to change at any time without notice. Provider’s discretion to accept or deny insurance payment for telemedicine services varies according to patient eligibility…

Insurances Accepted –
Ambetter , Aetna (Commercial, Government, & Workers Comp), Aetna Medicare, Coventry/First Health (Commercial & Government), Medicare, Medicaid( in the process), Peach State HMO, Tricare (out of network), BCBS, Amerigroup, and Caresource

When is it NOT appropriate to use telemedicine? Telemedicine is a great tool, but not for every problem. It would be inappropriate when there are any of the following: acute blood loss, pregnancy or suspected pregnancy, active chest pain, or trauma where blood loss as these things would be concerning. We want to make sure that you receive the best care possible in person, so in most of these cases, we would suggest contacting your primary care provider so that they can see you in person.

In the same vein, we wouldn’t be able to take your blood pressure or other procedures that require us to be in your presence checking your vitals. So we strongly encourage in the face of a medical emergency, it’s best to either call 911 or contact the primary care provider that can give you further direction.

If you have a concern that does not require an in-person visit with your provider, but rather a quick question or a quick medical problem where a phone call might be appropriate, then telemedicine is the best place for you.

After booking an appointment, you will get a link to connect with a Healthcare provider that can best help you. Based on the issue and your medical history and current symptoms, we will be able to provide a diagnosis and treatment plan. On certain occasions, we may request additional lab work to get more information about your problem.

What if I need follow-up care?
If telemedicine is part of your initial visit for diagnosis or testing, then you must schedule an appointment with the primary care provider to get any ongoing medical recommendations or treatment plans after that initial visit. Because telemedicine is used as a tool in order to evaluate a case in terms of what’s going on with your body, it’s not meant to be a replacement for in-person visits in long-term care scenarios.

Is telemedicine covered by my health insurance?
Telemedicine isn’t always covered by your healthcare insurance plan, so be sure to check with your specific carrier to learn more about what can be reimbursed under your policy. If telemedicine is an option that’s available through your primary care provider, then it’s worth checking into costs associated with the appointment as well as how much reimbursement will be provided for this visit.

How Do I Schedule an appointment with Extraordinary Family Healthcare?
All you would need to do is navigate to our Telemedicine page and book an appointment using the button labeled “Book an appointment”. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive more instructions on how to specifically get into the telemedicine platform.

With the rise of contagious diseases and overall sickness, some of our patients would rather not take the risk of exposing family members to illness. Telemedicine gives patients the ability to receive high-quality treatment without having to leave their homes or be exposed to the possible spread of contagious diseases.

Will I have a video conversation with my doctor?
Yes, you will have a video call with your healthcare provider, unless otherwise specified.

How will I know what information should be exchanged during our visit?
During your telehealth appointment, you’ll have an opportunity to share all the information needed for the provider to make recommendations on care plans or treatments moving forward.

If you would like to learn more, CONTACT US

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