New state telemedicine law improves health care access, helps caregivers

Technology has spurred great advances in medicine, and now it’s improving access to health care as well. Act_203_2017_, which took effect August 1, allows patients in Arkansas to initiate an audiovisual visit with a doctor from home or another convenient remote location.

AARP advocates have been gradually chipping away at restrictions on the use of telemedicine in Arkansas. A regulatory change in 2016 allows the use of audiovisual technology for first-time visits between a doctor and patient. Previously, an in-person visit was initially required.

Telemedicine is especially useful to homebound patients in rural areas and those who lack transportation. It also helps family caregivers, many of whom must take time off from work to drive their loved one to medical appointments.

What is telemedicine?

Telemedicine embraces the use of computers, cellphones or other communication technology to provide patients with the health care they need, when they need it. It doesn’t replace one-on-one, in-person interactions with your doctor, nurse or other health care practitioner. Instead, it creates new and enhanced ways to get care and to take charge of your own or a loved one’s health. For example:

• A monitoring device that can alert a family caregiver and emergency health care providers when the person being cared for has a stroke or heart attack, or suffers a serious injury
• A monitoring device used after you’re released from the hospital to track your progress and vital signs
• A video chat or online visit with your doctor
• A video chat with a health care professional in an emergency situation to provide instructions as you wait for help to arrive

Sometimes people need or prefer to see a doctor in person. In other circumstances, telemedicine enables them to avoid the time and expense of driving to an appointment.

Telemedicine also helps caregivers take care of themselves. Many family caregivers sacrifice their own health to care for others. They often fail to do regular physicals, to consult with a health provider about new symptoms, or talk with a mental health professional about caregiving stress. Being able to connect with their health provider by phone or email can help family caregivers have time to take care of themselves.

While computers, smartphones and other technology can’t replace in-person care for all individuals and situations, they can help make health care more accessible, affordable and convenient. In fact, telemedicine has been shown to be as safe and effective in many ways as in-person care.

At the federal level, the CHRONIC (Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic Care) Care Act, which passed the U.S. Senate unanimously in September 2017, among other things would expand the use of telemedicine options.  AARP strongly supports this legislation, which is currently before the U.S. House of Representatives.