TAKE THIS TIME TO BUILD HEALTHY HABITS
TAKE THIS TIME TO BUILD HEALTHY HABITS
We are in an unprecedented time of our lives and I doubt that anyone’s lives have been untouched by this COVID-19 crisis. Is it possible to find any “positives” coming out of this experience? The answer is, I really hope so.
In medicine, the need for social distancing has accelerated the insurance companies policies on covering TELEMEDICINE visits. Although this isn’t the same as a face to face visit, I’ve spent my first week interacting with patients in this forum and I am pleasantly surprised with the quality of the connections and impressive progress we have been able to make. Might this be a time for you to try to create a “positive”?
Check out this excellent article in the New York Times on how to successfully build healthy habits. Now may be exactly the right moment to start down this path.
https://www.nytimes.com/…/mind/how-to-build-healthy-habits.…
Comprehensive Gastrointestinal Health has temporarily converted all office visits for the dietitian, behavioral coach/counselor, nurse practitioner, and myself (the gastroenterologist) to telemedicine. Our phone lines are open as normal for scheduling but most staff are working from home on HIPAA-secure electronic medical record system and telemedicine visits.
If you want to take your downtime away from work to start building healthy habits or to address either acute or longstanding GI, nutritional, or mind-gut connection issues, we are here to help in a safe way! If you are an existing patient and want to coordinate your routine follow up visits to remain productive, please call!
For more information on the practice visit compgihealth.com or call 224.407.4400. And please stay healthy and stay home!!
Note: Insurance companies’ policies on reimbursement have not kept pace with technology and this crisis – yet. Last week Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield shared that telemedicine services will have expanded coverage – others insurers have begun following suit. Exact details of service coverage are not yet crystallized, but we pledge to try to minimize any expenses to our patients and will address on a case by case basis as this crisis unfolds. Changes are happening daily and information will be shared as it comes available to us. This comes from the American Gastroenterological Association:
“Some commercial payors are also expanding access to telehealth services waiving telehealth visit copayments. Aetna and some Blue Cross Blue Shield plans have waived telehealth visit copays. While United has not yet decided to waive telehealth visit copays, they announced on a recent call with specialty societies that they plan to follow Medicare waivers and other rules on telehealth during this emergency. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is temporarily covering telehealth services at the same rate as an in-person office visit and United plans to do as well. Check with your local payors and plans to find out what changes they are implementing.”