The American Telemedicine Association, in a letter sent this week to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), outlines several recommendations to improve network adequacy of managed care plans via telemedicine. ATA calls recognition of telemedicine in NAIC's network adequacy model "essential for health plans to innovate" care delivery.
"Telemedicine providers can expand access to high quality intensive care or counseling to consumers in rural or underserved areas, enhancing network adequacy," ATA CEO Jonathan Linkous states.
ATA also recommends to NAIC that a standard be added for health carriers regarding a directory of participating providers. "We recommend that a standard include health identification of telemedicine providers in the network, the states in which they are licensed and a basic description of the telemedicine services they offer." Letter (.pdf)