Amerigroup will cover telehealth services through LiveHealth Online for members of its five Medicare Advantage plans in Texas beginning in 2018, the payer announced Nov. 13.
LiveHealth Online connects patients with board-certified physicians and licensed therapists through smarpthone, tablet or computer video conferences. The 24/7 telehealth service is targeted toward patients in nonemergency situations, such as those seeking treatment for allergies, flu or infections.
Following a telehealth visit, a physician is able to send prescriptions directly to a patient's pharmacy of choice and deliver a summary to a patient's primary care physician.
"LiveHealth Online can be a great option for consumers in a number of situations where access to a clinician is usually somewhat difficult, including evenings and weekends, for people living in rural areas, those who travel a lot and those with mobility issues," explained Josh Martin, president of Amerigroup's Medicare West region.