NCPA Study: Government, Insurers Keep Medicine in...( But Help from Medical Entrepreneu...),Health

But Help from Medical Entrepreneurs is Only a Phone Call or E-Mail Away

DALLAS, Nov. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Health care entrepreneurs working outside the traditional health insurance payment system are using telephone, e-mail, text messaging and innovative computer software to make medical care more accessible and convenient for patients, according to a new study by the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA). http://www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st305/st305.pdf

"Patients often find it difficult to take time off work to see a doctor," said NCPA Senior Fellow Devon Herrick, who authored the study. "In the Information Age, location doesn't matter."

The study notes that the biggest obstacle to Information Age medicine, commonly referred to as telemedicine, is government and traditional insurance, which only reimburses for face-to-face consultations. Therefore, the most interesting developments in telemedicine are occurring outside traditional insurance, both by new medical services and by individual practitioners. For example:
-- Approximately 1 million patients are now subscribers to a nationwide

service operated by TelaDoc Medical Services (http://www.Teladoc.com). For

a low $35 consultation fee, enrollees can talk to a doctor by phone,

any time day or night.

-- TelaDoc maintains electronic medical records that are available

online, allowing physicians access to patient records anywhere in

the country and ensuring accuracy.

-- Virginia physician Dr. Alan Dappen also practices telemedicine.

Patients can schedule an appointment or e-mail him from his Web

page (http://www.Doctokr.com).

-- Dr. Dappen bills patients in five-minute increments ranging from

$25.50 for i
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