TY - JOUR
T1 - The Legal and Socioeconomic Considerations in Spine Telemedicine
AU - Perez-Roman, Roberto J.
AU - Trenchfield, Delano R.
AU - Perez-Roman, Nayda I.
AU - Wang, Michael Y.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2022. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/4/1
Y1 - 2022/4/1
N2 - Telemedicine has become indispensable in today's health care because of the recent ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Although it has been beneficial in coping with the pandemic, there is still much uncertainty as to whether it will have a permanent role in treating spine patients. Some of the ongoing legal challenges include patient confidentiality, liability coverage for treating healthcare workers, and financial reimbursements by insurance companies. One of the impediments of telemedicine is its lack of a standard legal framework. Telehealth is currently regulated through a state-based system with each state having its own policy regarding this practice. In addition, each of the components of a virtual visit represent a potential area for legal concerns. Nonetheless, telemedicine has the ability to provide convenient and effective health care to patients. However, the spine surgeon, as well as other physicians, must consider the legal issues along with some socioeconomic factors identified herein. Moreover, without parity and uniformity, the incentive to offer telehealth services decreases. There may be a need for modifications in the law, insurance policies, and medical malpractice coverage to strengthen their support to telemedicine usage. As spine surgeons become more familiarized with the telemedicine framework, its role in patient care will likely expand.
AB - Telemedicine has become indispensable in today's health care because of the recent ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Although it has been beneficial in coping with the pandemic, there is still much uncertainty as to whether it will have a permanent role in treating spine patients. Some of the ongoing legal challenges include patient confidentiality, liability coverage for treating healthcare workers, and financial reimbursements by insurance companies. One of the impediments of telemedicine is its lack of a standard legal framework. Telehealth is currently regulated through a state-based system with each state having its own policy regarding this practice. In addition, each of the components of a virtual visit represent a potential area for legal concerns. Nonetheless, telemedicine has the ability to provide convenient and effective health care to patients. However, the spine surgeon, as well as other physicians, must consider the legal issues along with some socioeconomic factors identified herein. Moreover, without parity and uniformity, the incentive to offer telehealth services decreases. There may be a need for modifications in the law, insurance policies, and medical malpractice coverage to strengthen their support to telemedicine usage. As spine surgeons become more familiarized with the telemedicine framework, its role in patient care will likely expand.
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U2 - 10.1227/NEU.0000000000001856
DO - 10.1227/NEU.0000000000001856
M3 - Article
C2 - 35086979
AN - SCOPUS:85126830832
VL - 90
SP - 365
EP - 371
JO - Neurosurgery
JF - Neurosurgery
SN - 0148-396X
IS - 4
ER -