Payers Embrace Online Consults

HDM Breaking News, December 20, 2007

Health insurers Aetna Inc. and CIGNA HealthCare will offer reimbursement of online patient-physician consultations using the webVisit software of the RelayHealth unit of McKesson Corp., San Francisco.

Both payers are significantly expanding reimbursement for online consultations following pilot programs. Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna tested the online service since July 2006 with a limited number of physicians in California, Arizona, Florida and the New York City metropolitan region. Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna tested the service in California, Florida and Washington State.

CIGNA is offering the webVisit service to employers with self-insured health plans, reimbursable at $25, which includes the member’s co-payment. Aetna will offer the service to most fully insured plan members; self-insured plan sponsors can choose to participate. Aetna’s reimbursement rate may vary according to a physician’s contract.

Physicians typically pay $100 per physician per month for the software, which sometimes is subsidized by a hospital. The software also offers additional Web-based services to patients, including online prescription refills and renewals, delivery of laboratory test results, and appointment and referral requests. More information is available at relayhealth.com.

For more information on related topics, visit the following channels:

• Consumer Health
• Group Practices
• Payers