The growth of teledermatology: Expanding to reach the underserved.
Publication/Presentation Date
4-1-2020
Abstract
The regulation of telemedicine in the United States is evolving, with new legislation expanding reimbursement and cross-state licensing capabilities. As telemedicine grows, communities with limited access to traditional dermatologic care may find a solution in teledermatology. A search of the medical literature and online health care law resources published within the past decade was performed to assess the current status of telemedicine availability, health record integration and security, reimbursement policy, and licensure requirements in the United States, with a focus on teledermatology. The majority of states have implemented policies requiring private insurance coverage. Medicaid reimburses some form of telemedicine in all states but restricts which modalities can be used and by which specialties. Medicare places the heaviest limitations on telemedicine coverage. Twenty-four states and Guam are members of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), and 27 states offer alternative cross-state practice options. With the advent of publicly and privately funded programs, volunteer efforts, and mobile applications, teledermatology is more readily available to rural and underserved communities.
Volume
82
Issue
4
First Page
1025
Last Page
1033
ISSN
1097-6787
Published In/Presented At
Chuchvara, N., Patel, R., Srivastava, R., Reilly, C., & Rao, B. K. (2020). The growth of teledermatology: Expanding to reach the underserved. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 82(4), 1025–1033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2019.11.055
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
31811880
Department(s)
Department of Medicine, Fellows and Residents
Document Type
Article