HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Doctor no longer Allowing Virtual Appointments

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/25/2021 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
Ever since Covid I have been able to have virtual appointments with my oncologist. Their office is saying that he can no longer provide telehealth services to states where he is not registered.

I live in PA and my doctor is in NY.

Is this an insurance thing or is it because I live in another state…meaning a residence thing?

We don’t travel much still because of Covid and for now, would really prefer to have video appointments.

Any thoughts?
Posted 8/25/2021 7:09 AM (GMT 0)
Can a doctor practice in more than one state?

Although federal standards govern medical training and testing, each state has its own licensing board, and doctors must procure a license for every state in which they practice medicine (with some limited exceptions for physicians from bordering states, for consultations, and during emergencies).
Posted 8/25/2021 10:01 AM (GMT 0)
I had the same experience. I live in Delaware & my oncologist is at Johns Hopkins, MD. Video appointments were working fine and then, some months ago, I got a call indicating we could no longer use video. I didn't question the revised policy but got the impression that a temporary regulatory waiver had expired (Delaware or Maryland?).

...Jerry
Posted 8/25/2021 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Steve n Dallas - Thanks…so is that a PA or NY thing…meaning, I think that the doctor had a special Covid exception to do this the last several months…so is that a PA law/policy or a NY law/policy that just changed?

Jerry_Delaware - Thanks. I had a feeling you were from Delaware…My poor attempt at humor…yeah, I’m curious which state changed.

I’m curious about this because I’ve been a patient for 4 years or so. So it’s not that the NY doctor can’t see PA patients…I think it’s just that this NY doctor can’t treat in PA. So, I don’t think it’s a residence thing…I’ve lived in PA forever. Is it based on where my insurance is? Or is it simply where the phone call/video conf is based? Meaning, can I go to NY state and place the call?

More curious than anything..

Thanks,
Jerry
Posted 8/25/2021 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
Update:

I called their Telehealth section and found out that the restriction is only for new patients. Existing patients can still do virtual visits even outside of the state…so contacted the doc’s office and all is good now…
Posted 8/26/2021 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
My oncologist's office in California has instituted an annual "membership fee" since they say they can't bill as much for virtual appointments.
Posted 8/26/2021 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
Mine too, Michael.

I have a feeling we both do Lam (or Schultz).

Mel
Posted 8/26/2021 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
Just curious, how much is the annual membership fee?

I remember how much Myers cost back in the day…very expensive…but I did like him a lot.
Posted 8/26/2021 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
It's $250/year for established patients. I think it's a bit more for new patients, but I can't quite recall.

I like my doc there a lot as well. And since I'm a member, I guess that means I like him $250/year worth.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply