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A new study, authored by Arthur L. Wilmes, FSA, MAAA, principal & actuary at Milliman, estimated the impact of online care by developing individual actuarial cost models for a commercial and Medicare population from internal Milliman data sources. And here’s the money quote from the Government Technology website report:
The majority of savings estimated in Milliman’s analysis came from the potential for substitution of non-emergent ER visits and in-person visits (both acute and follow-up) with lower-cost live interactions using an online care platform. The savings for the commercial population amounted to 9.2 percent for the services analyzed, representing an estimated 1.2 percent reduction in overall medical costs. For Medicare, the savings amounted to 12.1 percent for the services analyzed, equivalent to an estimated 1.2 percent of overall medical costs. Milliman also identified other potential clinical applications of online care with cost savings potential, including chronic patient management, early disease detection and care management.
(Thanks to ICMCC)
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September 27, 2008 at 2:54 pm
On line health care clearly has the potential to provide good continuity between doctors and patients, but significant barriers do exist. The entire health care reimbursement system is just beginning to acknowledge that physician services can be provided outside the traditional doctor-patient office visit. In my mind significant liability issues still exist as well. If someone is falsely reassured online by a doctor or nurse and never comes in to be seen this seems like a major malpractice suit waiting to happen.
September 27, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Thanks so much Country Doc for your comment.
The liabilities of online health care compared to the risks inherent in other modes of clinical work is a key issue that has to be discussed by practitioners. What kinds of clinical care and interaction are appropriate for online health care? How can attendant risks be mitigated? However, the potential advantages, when it comes to access, cost and quality for populations or circumstances in which direct physician office visits are difficult or impossible, have to be kept in mind. If we can blend the evolving technology with clinical common sense, we may be able to open up some new and exciting avenues for health care delivery.