About Telemedicine

Telemedicine can be an important tool to keep you healthy, particularly while the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is not allowing for in-person medical visits in many circumstances.

Please see UMGCCC's current routine appointment restrictions.

Telemedicine, however, cannot be used in all instances. Your provider can guide you on which conditions or issues can be addressed via telemedicine. At your telemedicine visit, your provider may decide you still need an office visit.

And if you are experiencing an emergency, you should call 911 or go to the emergency department.

What Happens at a Telemedicine Visit

Before Your Appointment

• When you schedule your telemedicine visit, you will be asked to provide billing and insurance information as you would for an in-person visit.
• Your scheduler will send you instructions on how to join the visit in advance either within MyPortfolio or through an email.
• Your provider will ask for your verbal consent at the beginning of every visit.

At Your Appointment

The appointments are the same structure as a routine appointment, except you don't have to be in the same room as your doctor.

Through a telemedicine visit, a doctor can do review your medications and test results, evaluate how a treatment or therapy is working and see how you are breathing or moving, for example.

If a prescription is needed, a provider can place an order electronically and send it to your pharmacy for pick-up.

Privacy and Security

All UMGCCC virtual visits use secure technology designed for telemedicine. We will not record visits with your provider, and your provider will tell you if someone else from their office can hear or see you.

If people are close to you, they may hear something you did not want them to know. You should be in a private place, so other people cannot hear you. If you use the Internet for telemedicine, use a network that is private and secure.

Billing and Payments

Telemedicine visits are billed similarly to an in-office visit. There is no additional cost to having your appointment by telemedicine instead of in-person. As with your regular doctor's office, telemedicine is covered by most major insurance carriers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many insurance companies have waived member's responsibilities during this time. Check with your insurance provider for details about your coverage.

Your provider's office will submit your bill to your insurance like they would for a normal office visit. UMGCCC will not collect a copay up front during this time.