5 Ways Telemedicine Can Cut Costs Without Cutting Corners In Workers’ Comp

The use of telemedicine is becoming more common than ever. A quick browse through a general care physician’s online portal shows options to text medical questions to a nurse, schedule a video appointment with a doctor and request a virtual exam.

Nationally, the use of telemedicine increased with an average annual compound growth rate of 261 percent between 2015 and 2017, according to the Washington Post.

While telemedicine is becoming increasingly common, workers’ compensation programs have been slower to adopt these new technologies.

Overall, workers’ compensation is seeing an increase in the area of telemedicine. In 2015, 56% of Kaiser Permenente’s interactions between physicians and members were virtual, according to NCCI data. A lack of guidance and differences in state regulations, however, can make telemedicine programs difficult to implement in workers’ compensation.

“I think telemedicine is a game changer,” Ann Schnure, vice president at Concentra Telemedicine, told Risk & Insurance®. “But you can’t [instantly] turn the switch on. You have to really think through what you are doing and what state you are in.”