A new law means physicians participating in Texas' Medicaid program will receive compensation for virtual appointments with children at school.
The law goes into effect on Sept. 1, according to an article published in the Texas Tribune. Children enrolled in Medicaid would be able to meet remotely with a doctor while under the supervision of a school nurse. The doctor would assess the child's condition with the use of an electronic stethoscope, digital otoscope and other tools.
Rep. Jodie Laubenberg (R-Parker) wrote the legislation and said that if the doctor makes a diagnosis, the child can be treated at school so parents don't have to leave work to pick up their children. Laubenberg said she wrote the legislation to support telemedicine programs.
Criticism includes questions about how schools will determine who is eligible for virtual doctor visits, making sure the virtual doctor is adequately informed about the patient's history and allergies and making sure patients who sign blanket consent forms understand the implications.
Editor
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.