By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Clean Your Mattress Properly to Avoid Common Health Issues
    March 29, 2023
    5 Benefits Of HIPAA-Compliant Answering Services
    March 28, 2023
    3 Ways To Deal With Health Issues In Cities With High Pollution
    March 22, 2023
    What Tools Should Your Caregiver Have?
    March 22, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    AARP Ready to Deal on Social Security Cuts
    June 18, 2011
    CLASS Act Could Be on Chopping Block
    July 22, 2011
    How Healthcare Reform Will Change Healthcare Communication Forever
    November 6, 2011
    Latest News
    What Are Bioidentical Hormones Made With?
    March 23, 2023
    Cover Medical Costs of Child Dog Bites with Legal Specialists
    March 23, 2023
    3 Ways to Improve the U.S. Healthcare System By 2030
    March 14, 2023
    6 Steps To Ensure Speed And Efficiency Of Clinical Studies
    March 14, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Georgia’s Proposed Telemedicine Rule
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Latest News
healthy travel tips when visiting Australia
7 Essential Tips to Stay Safe and Healthy Visiting Australia
News
health risks of dirty mattress
Clean Your Mattress Properly to Avoid Common Health Issues
Health
eligble for NDIS?
Are You Eligible For NDIS? How To Apply
News
upgrade to your nursing career
4 Pertinent Ways to Upgrade Your Nursing Career
Nursing
career in nursing
8 Keys to A Fulfilling & Successful Career in Nursing
Career
Aa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Aa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Georgia’s Proposed Telemedicine Rule
eHealth

Georgia’s Proposed Telemedicine Rule

rdowney14
Last updated: 2012/12/13 at 7:41 AM
rdowney14
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Last Thursday, the Georgia Composite Medical Board took up its proposed telemedicine rule, one that would definitely limit telemedicine in that state.

As written, it would stifle the use of the technology by nurse practitioners and physician assistants because it would require that a patient be seen or examined by a physician in person or via electronic means before a NP or PA could provide care.

Frankly, when I first read about this rule, I thought ‘They can’t be serious!’  And in fact, there was a huge outcry against it.

Last Thursday, the Georgia Composite Medical Board took up its proposed telemedicine rule, one that would definitely limit telemedicine in that state.

More Read

A Guide to Medical Billing Services for Small Practices

How to Use E-Cigarettes to Stop Smoking
Healthcare Blogging: How to Become a Trusted Medical Source
What Has the Medical Industry Learned from COVID-19?
Ethics of Social Media Success and Instagram Influencers in Healthcare

As written, it would stifle the use of the technology by nurse practitioners and physician assistants because it would require that a patient be seen or examined by a physician in person or via electronic means before a NP or PA could provide care.

Frankly, when I first read about this rule, I thought ‘They can’t be serious!’  And in fact, there was a huge outcry against it.

Time to step back for a little background on the pecking order of practitioners.  Physician assistants have supervising physicians.  New patients who see a PA actually establish the doctor-patient relationship with the PA’s supervising physician.  So requiring a patient to first see a physician in person or via videoconferencing before they have the encounter with the PA via telemedicine is a step backward.  Also, nurse practitioners in most states (Georgia may be different) work in collaboration with physicians; they are not supervised.  So the rule threatened to usurp the limited autonomy that an NP has and once again put the physician in charge.

The explanation for the rule from the board’s medical director, a physician, was to ensure that mid-level practitioners are supervised by physicians familiar with telemedicine technology.  So for patient protection, care and quality, in a time when there is a shortage of doctors, the board was going to throw up a barrier that would limit access to healthcare.  Huh?!?!? And the Georgia Nurses Association and consumer advocate orgainizations had basically the same reaction.

In timely fashion, Kaiser Health News published an article written by Christine Vestal, titled “In Many Communities, Nurse Practitioners Fill an Important Void.”  The story focuses on the Central Virginia Community Health Center in Buckingham County where four physicians would be overwhelmed by the 200 patients who show up every day, were it not for the help of nurse practitioners.  There are roughly 5,800 U.S. communities that don’t have enough primary care doctors.  So a telemedicine rule that further limits access to healthcare would aggravate the situation – especially when the new federal healthcare law extends insurance coverage in 2014 to 30 million more people.

In their minds, board members probably thought they were acting in good faith because they were only talking among themselves.  I’m sure they were not expecting the firestorm of reaction the proposed rule created.  Wisely, the board voted last Thursday to send the rule back to the Rules Committee to consider the comments received.  Executive Director LaSharn Hughes expects it to be on the rules agenda in January where, if the board has any sense, it will be quietly laid to rest.

TAGGED: telehealth

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
rdowney14 December 13, 2012
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article Sinai Hospital and Operation Walk Maryland Bring Hope to Haitian Patient with Osteonecrosis
Next Article Is Fee-For-Service Really Dead?

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

healthy travel tips when visiting Australia
7 Essential Tips to Stay Safe and Healthy Visiting Australia
News March 29, 2023
health risks of dirty mattress
Clean Your Mattress Properly to Avoid Common Health Issues
Health March 29, 2023
eligble for NDIS?
Are You Eligible For NDIS? How To Apply
News March 29, 2023
upgrade to your nursing career
4 Pertinent Ways to Upgrade Your Nursing Career
Nursing March 29, 2023

You Might also Like

healthcare video marketing
MarketingSocial Media

How to Maintain a Successful YouTube Channel as a Healthcare Organization: Advantages of Video Marketing for your Medical Practice

November 9, 2022
Electronic Health Records
BusinesseHealthHospital AdministrationMedical Records

Top Benefits of Electronic Health Records for Psychiatrists and Psychologists

August 15, 2022
tips to design a health app
eHealth

How To Improve Patient Access Metrics

April 5, 2022
social media addiction is harming teenage mental health
eHealthMental HealthSocial Media

5 Ways Social Media Affects Teen Mental Health

April 4, 2022
//

We influence million of users and is the most authentic source of information on healthcare business and technology news.

Quick Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US

© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?