As people physically stayed away from her office last year, Dr. Salma Saiger met with many patients through video chat.
鈥淭hey would show me their pets and their grandchildren,'' said Saiger, a primary care physician in Mesquite. 鈥淎nd it [helped] create a good, deeper relationship.鈥�
Telemedicine opened up during the COVID-19 pandemic, both and locally. The Texas insurance department temporarily required state-regulated health plans to as in-person visits, although that .
Also during the pandemic, the state temporarily expanded telehealth services that were covered under Medicaid and CHIP. Medicaid insures very low income Texans, and CHIP covers children from low income families.
Now, those emergency rules could become permanent if Gov. Greg Abbott signs a recently-passed bill into law, as expected.
This expansion is only for Medicaid, CHIP or other state-provided coverage. That鈥檚 a setback for health care providers who were hoping telehealth visits would be reimbursed at the same rate as in-person visits under private health plans, known as 鈥減ayment parity.鈥�
At least three bills in the Texas House and one bill in the Texas Senate would have required 鈥減ayment parity.鈥� All failed.
Supporters will likely have to wait until 2023 to try again since the state Legislature meets only once every two years.
鈥淚 think telemedicine is still trying to prove itself in terms of cost efficiency or cost effectiveness,鈥� said Tom Banning, CEO of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians. 鈥淐ertainly, it has improved the accessibility of care.鈥�
Banning said lawmakers had 鈥渓egitimate鈥� concerns that expanding access would drive up costs, and there isn鈥檛 a lot of long-term research on whether paying for telemedicine lowers the cost of care.
Even the bill that did pass, HB 4, was measured in its approach. It said the head of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission will design policies and procedures for Medicaid telehealth services in accordance with federal law.
Still, Banning called the passing of HB 4 鈥渁n important step鈥� in physicians鈥� ability to use telemedicine to care for patients.
Saiger wants to continue having the option to build the intimacy with patients video visits provide.
鈥淚 hope telehealth is here to stay,鈥� Saiger said.
Got a tip? Email Bret Jaspers at bjaspers@kera.org. You can follow Bret on Twitter .
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