JACKSON, Miss.- The American Telemedicine Association in its 2016 state-by-state report card ranked Mississippi’s Center for Telehealth with an “A’ overall score.
Only eight other states received an “A” rating. The Center for Teleheath is at University of Mississippi Medical Center and in 2015 they treated 1,600 psychiatric patients alone. That was double what they saw in 2014, at 900.
This center allows for the teaching hospital to fill in the gaps left by state mental health programs for rural customers. Residents are allowed the opportunity to live audio/video stream on a computer with a doctor at UMMC.
The initiative was approved in 2013 when Mississippi became the 15th state to require health insurance plans to provide coverage and reimbursement for telehealth services. Legislators approved that move in 2014.
“Mississippi continues to lead the nation in telemedicine,” said Gov. Phil Bryant. “I am proud we have created an environment where telemedicine can grow, prosper and treat our citizens who most rely on dependable availability of quality health care. I congratulate everyone involved in making our latest A rating a reality.”
This year, lawmakers made possible the expedite licensure for out-of-state physicians who would like to participate in telehealth medicine in Mississippi.
