UPMC's two-year-old pilot offering patients physician diagnoses by e-mail has become popular, but outside insurers still won't cover it, according to a report by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The Pittsburgh-based health system's eVisits pilot started with 30 UPMC physicians and was limited six common problems, such as colds and eye infections. Now it includes 14 more problems, from shingles and erectile dysfunction, and the number of patient requests is now at five a day.
Proponents say eVisits are a convenience for patients, a time-saver for physicians and a money-saver for insurance companies.
But only 60 percent of UPMC's 277 primary care physicians have agreed to be part of the program since it expanded in October. And while UPMC's own health plan covers eVisits through a $20 co-pay, outside insurers do not. Uncovered patients have to pay a $30 fee to use eVisits.
Highmark, the largest local insurer, said it is still "determining how this might work for our members across the nation."
Read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report on e-office visits.
Read more coverage of office visits.
- The Case for Shifting More Services to Midlevel Providers
The Pittsburgh-based health system's eVisits pilot started with 30 UPMC physicians and was limited six common problems, such as colds and eye infections. Now it includes 14 more problems, from shingles and erectile dysfunction, and the number of patient requests is now at five a day.
Proponents say eVisits are a convenience for patients, a time-saver for physicians and a money-saver for insurance companies.
But only 60 percent of UPMC's 277 primary care physicians have agreed to be part of the program since it expanded in October. And while UPMC's own health plan covers eVisits through a $20 co-pay, outside insurers do not. Uncovered patients have to pay a $30 fee to use eVisits.
Highmark, the largest local insurer, said it is still "determining how this might work for our members across the nation."
Read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report on e-office visits.
Read more coverage of office visits.
- The Case for Shifting More Services to Midlevel Providers