More companies offering 'telehealth' consultations

Various "telehealth" services -- allowing consumers access to health care via telephone, Internet or other telecommunications devices -- have cropped up in recent months, the Wall Street Journal reports.

American Well's service, launched in January, allows patients to talk with doctors through online video, online chat or phone. Physicians can review patients' personal health records using Microsoft's HealthVault and can prescribe medications. The service is currently available only to patients in Hawaii through the Hawaii Medical Service Association, a BlueCross BlueShield affiliate. Insured patients pay $10 for a 10-minute consultation, while those who are uninsured or not a member of HMSA pay $45.

Similar services include SwiftMD, which launched in November and is available in New York and New Jersey, and TelaDoc, available in Dallas.

To use most of the services, patients need a standard computer connected to the Internet and a Web cam. Before consulting with a doctor, patients develop a username and password, enter payment information and answer basic questions about their medical history. Once the consultation is complete, records are stored in a personal electronic health file.

According to the Journal, the Web sites "appeal to uninsured patients, as well as millions of others hit by layoffs and the recession" because they cost less than most in-person health care consultations.

Because physician-licensing regulations and health plans vary from state to state, the availability of electronic consultations is limited. Another potential limitation is that some patients might be hesitant to disclose personal information to a stranger or have concerns regarding the privacy and security of their online health records.

Companies operating the services say they are not a replacement for health insurance or appropriate for all ailments. Patients are advised to go to the hospital in emergency situations.

Michael Stollar, vice president of marketing and communication for HMSA, said the services can help reduce rising health care spending by limiting unnecessary visits to emergency departments and helping people detect illnesses earlier and receive proper treatment sooner (Lawton, Wall Street Journal, 3/5).