Telemedicine is — and will probably continue to be — one of the biggest trends in digital health this year. With widespread broadband, the growth of mobile devices and electronic health records finally going mainstream, it's little wonder.
So it's incredibly odd, or perfectly reasonable, that it would draw the ire of regulators.
But while Texas continues its campaign against telemedicine, it appears that lawmakers, at least, appear to be fighting back.
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Despite vocal protests and intense lobbying, the Texas Medical Board is pressing ahead with a rule that goes beyond an earlier American Medical Association ruling.
The AMA ruled earlier this year that "a valid patient-physician relationship must be established before the provision of telemedicine services, through a face-to-face examination (face-to-face can be in person or via audio/video), if a face-to-face encounter would otherwise be required in the provision of the same service not delivered via telemedicine; a consultation with another physician who has an ongoing patient-physician relationship with the patient."
The AMA refused further comment.
"After they explained their position more, I learned that the AMA sees telemedicine has a very appropriate place, as long as certain criteria are met," explains Reid Rasmussen, owner of McKinney, Texas, based freshbenies. "The TMB does not believe even the criteria are enough. "
As Rasmussen suggests, the TMB feels that first patient-physician meeting must be in person. And despite widespread comments arguing against it, the board is moving forward after delaying a final ruling until after the close of the state's legislative session June 15.
However, there are a trio of bills working their way through the statehouse that would supersede that ruling, one of which has already moved out of committee.
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