AMA Adopts Telemedicine Policy to Improve Access to Care for Patients
Policy Outlines Safeguards and Standards Necessary for Proper Use
CHICAGO – The American Medical Association (AMA) believes that the appropriate use of telemedicine to deliver care to patients could greatly improve access and quality of care, while maintaining patient safety. During its Annual Meeting today the AMA voted to approve a list of guiding principles for ensuring the appropriate coverage of and payment for telemedicine services. The principles aim to help foster innovation in the use of telemedicine, protect the patient-physician relationship and promote improved care coordination and communication with medical homes.
The guiding principles stem from a policy report developed by the AMA’s Council on Medical Service addressing coverage and payment for telemedicine, which provided robust background on the delivery of telemedicine. It also outlined current coverage and telemedicine payment rules, a summary of specialty society practice guidelines and position statements on telemedicine, and case studies.
“Whether a patient is seeing his or her physician in person or via telemedicine, the same standards of care for the patient must be maintained. Telemedicine can strengthen the patient-physician relationship and improve access to receive care remotely, as medically appropriate, including treatment for chronic conditions, which are proven ways to improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs,” said Dr. Wah.
The evolution of telemedicine impacts all of the AMA’s strategic focus areas: Improving Health Outcomes, Enhancing Physician Satisfaction and Practice Sustainability and Accelerating Change in Medical Education. “Whether a patient is seeing his or her physician in person or via telemedicine the same standards of care must be maintained. Telemedicine can strengthen the patient-physician relationship and improve access for patients to receive care remotely as medically appropriate including treatment for chronic conditions, which are proven ways to improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs,” said Dr. Wah.
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Media Contact:
Randi Kahn
AMA Media & Editorial
(202) 789-7442
randi.kahn@ama-assn.org
About the AMA
The American Medical Association is the premier national organization dedicated to empowering the nation’s physicians to continually provide safer, higher quality, and more efficient care to patients and communities. For more than 165 years the AMA has been unwavering in its commitment to using its unique position and knowledge to shape a healthier future for America.
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