Hawaii Medical Service Association To Offer 'Virtual Visits'

Main Category: IT / Internet / E-mail
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 24 Jun 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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The Hawaii Medical Service Association on Wednesday announced the launch of a new 24-hour medical service program that will offer state residents 10-minute "virtual visits" with a physician by computer or telephone, USA Today reports. The consultations will cost $20 to $50 per visit. The service will be available to all residents regardless of health insurance status (Appleby, USA Today, 6/19).

The online service is a collaborative project among HMSA, Microsoft's HealthVault program and Boston-based American Well's Healthcare Marketplace on-demand initiative. The service will allow physicians to review patients' health data and prescription information (Honolulu Advertiser, 6/19). According to USA Today, the service "is designed for time-crunched patients and to save money for insurers who won't have to pay for an office visit" (USA Today, 6/19).

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