The document identifies persistent barriers to telemedicine such as licensure, liability, security, and reimbursement issues. It also lists examples of telemedicine companies and proposes solutions like a national telemedicine license and reimbursement parity. The bottom line is that telemedicine use will continue incremental improvement in 2013 as manpower and fiscal crises drive its adoption, and the industry will remain fragmented though some consolidation may occur.

1. Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA
University of Colorado School of Medicine

2. Persistent Barriers
Licensure and credentialing
Liability
Security and Confidentiality
Reimbursement
Human factors: education, training, incentives,
workflow disruption
Technical : lack of turnkey complete solution
International issues

3. Examples
www.medvoy.com
www.diversinet.com
www.cotelecare.com
www.interactivemd.com
www.nutritashealth.com

4. Solutions
National medical/telemedicine license
Mandatory telemedicine reimbursement parity
Medical school/GME digital health education and
competency
Global medical liability solutions
Technical improvements
Managing professional and patient expectations
Security and confidentiality
Digital integration and connectedness

5. Bottom Line
There will be continuing incremental improvement in the
use of telemedicine in 2013
Manpower and fiscal crises will drive the adaptation of
non face-to-face care modalities
Businesses will continue to experiment with care and
business models
The industry will continue to be fragmented
Insurance, IT/telecom technology and payers will
continue to merge
There will eventually be a rollup of small players into
several dominant telemedicine players

6. Bottom Line
There will be continuing incremental improvement in the
use of telemedicine in 2013
Manpower and fiscal crises will drive the adaptation of
non face-to-face care modalities
Businesses will continue to experiment with care and
business models
The industry will continue to be fragmented
Insurance, IT/telecom technology and payers will
continue to merge
There will eventually be a rollup of small players into
several dominant telemedicine players