Is Telemedicine Right for Your Practice? A Guide to Getting Started
Evaluating Telemedicine for Your Practice
At Credex Healthcare, we have extensive experience helping providers integrate telemedicine into their practices. We’ve worked with various specialties, launched nationwide telemedicine companies, and guided numerous healthcare professionals through the credentialing and enrollment process. However, leveraging telemedicine credentialing services is not the right fit for every practice. Our telemedicine credentialing services can help you answer the following questions to determine whether it’s the right move for you.
Key Questions to Consider Before Adding Telemedicine
1. How Will Telemedicine Fit Into Your Practice?
Will telemedicine be a standalone business, or will it be integrated into your existing practice? Do you and your staff have the time to manage the administrative workload that comes with using telemedicine credentialing services? If telemedicine will take time away from your in-person patients or negatively impact your work-life balance, you may need to rethink your approach.
2. Will You Accept Insurance for Telemedicine Services?
If you plan to accept insurance, has your state adopted telemedicine parity laws? These laws ensure that insurers reimburse virtual visits at the same rate as in-person visits. If your state has not adopted parity laws, are you willing to obtain licensure in a neighboring state that has? In states without parity, telemedicine reimbursement rates can be significantly lower.
3. Do You Have a Clear Purpose for Offering Telemedicine?
What problem does telemedicine solve for your patients? If your in-person appointment slots are already booked weeks in advance, will adding virtual visits improve patient access, or will it create longer wait times? Telemedicine should enhance your practice, not create inefficiencies. Consider how telemedicine credentialing services might support this goal.
4. Are You Prepared for the Investment?
Launching a successful telemedicine service requires financial planning. A minimum budget of $15,000 is recommended for administrative setup, technology, and marketing. If you plan to operate in multiple states, costs may increase by $5,000–$10,000 per state. If you do not intend to accept insurance, expect to triple your marketing budget to attract self-pay patients. Telemedicine credentialing services can assist in managing these investments.
5. Is Your Practice Digitally Ready?
A strong online presence is essential for telemedicine success. Do you have a modern website and a patient portal that patients actively use? If your practice lacks digital infrastructure, investing in telemedicine may not yield the expected results. Ensuring readiness for telemedicine credentialing services is a key part of this preparation.
Making the Right Decision
By evaluating these factors, you can determine whether telemedicine is a realistic opportunity or if it may be better to focus on growing your traditional practice. If you’re ready to move forward, Credex Healthcare can guide you through the telemedicine credentialing process, ensuring compliance and smooth integration into your practice.
Take the next step—contact us today for expert support in launching your telemedicine services.