In Mississippi, all health insurers and employee benefit plans must provide coverage for telemedicine services the same as if they are provided through an in-person consultation. According to a state statute, the state Medicaid plan is required to reimburse for in-home telemonitoring services.
However providers must be based in Mississippi and are required to set a standard for acceptable client clinical parameters, create a mechanism for monitoring, tracking, and responding to changes in a patient’s clinical condition, plus be able to notify the prescribing physician of significant changes in a patient’s vital signs and symptoms.
The legislation also sets requirements for telemedicine equipment and wireless networks to qualify for reimbursement. The payment structure includes a one-time installation fee for in-home telemonitoring services with a maximum of two installation and/or training fees per calendar year.
To qualify for in-home telemonitoring services, patients must:
- Be diagnosed with one or more chronic diseases that can include mental health, asthma, diabetes, and heart disease in the last 18 months
- Have had a recent documented history of high-cost service utilization due to one or more chronic conditions, including two or more hospitalizations or emergency room visits in the last 12 months
- Have a healthcare provider recommend disease management services via in-home telemonitoring
In 2014, the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) Center for Telehealth www.umc.edu partnered with the North Sunflower Medical Center http://northsunflower.com, GE Healthcare www.gehealthcare.com, C Spire www.cspire.com and Intel-GE Care Innovations www.careinnovations.com along with the Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant to develop an in-home telemonitoring program known as the “Diabetes Telehealth Network.”
The program gives tablets to diabetes patients in rural parts of the state so that each day, patients can report to their clinicians on their physical, psychological, and emotional status. They are able to electronically transmit their vital signs which are then automatically transmitted to providers via wireless networks.
Although the program is relatively new, early results are promising. In testimony last April before the U.S Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Dr. Kisti Henderson, Chief Telehealth and Innovation Officer at UMMC, reported that the 85 patients currently enrolled in the pilot, reported that their disease is under control for the first time and they are feeling better.
While the pilot goal was for 75 percent of patient to reduce their hemoglobin A1C levels by one percent in the first year, the study shows that after only six months, the average reduction in A1C levels is almost 2 percent with a savings of $339,184 over six months.
In addition with the exception of one patient who needed to be hospitalized at the time of enrollment, none of the participants have gone to the emergency room or have been admitted to the hospital for their diabetes.
As announced November 2015, Intel-GE Care Innovations, has extended collaboration with UMMC by signing a five year contract that will not only cater to diabetes patients but also patients experiencing chronic heart failure, COPD, asthma, and hypertension. Also, the extended program will bring a new model of care to thousands of chronically ill and underserved people across the Southeastern U.S.
According to the new contract with UMMC, Intel-GE will provide remote care management solutions through their Health Harmony platform. This platform will provide data analytics and application integration services, consumer friendly devices and peripherals, interactive education, and the use of videoconferencing.