Hawaii Medical Service Association will launch on Jan. 15 the nation's first 24-hour online system to connect patients and doctors statewide.

    HMSA Offers Doctor Visits Online  

 

 

HMSA is going to be the first medical service in the country to offer doctor's visits online.

 

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  The system, which will be available to all residents including non-HMSA members, is intended to improve access to care, particularly for rural areas on the neighbor islands.

HMSA members will be able to speak with a physician via the Internet from their homes for $10 a visit up to 10 minutes, while nonmembers will pay $45 a visit. If the doctor and patient agree to extend the session for another five minutes, HMSA members will pay an additional $5 and nonmembers will pay $15 more over the Internet via credit or debit card.

Meanwhile, physicians will get paid $25 for 10 minutes during normal business hours and $30 after hours, with additional payment for extended visits.

So far dozens of doctors from all specialties have signed up for the program, according to HMSA vice president Michael Stollar, who wouldn't release a specific number since physician enrollment began just a week ago. He also wouldn't disclose the program cost, but said it will come strictly out of HMSA's reserves, which totaled $489 million at the end of the third quarter. Premium dues rates will not be impacted, he said.

“;HMSA is not in it as a money-making venture; it really is an investment in the health-care infrastructure,”; Stollar said. “;Because of that we're able to make it available to all residents of the state at a very good price. We're really looking at this from a social value.”;

The system is not intended to replace face-to-face visits with physicians, but aims to be an easy and convenient alternative when a patient cannot visit their doctor's office, including after business hours, weekends and holidays, he said.

Physicians who sign up for the program will be able to consult with patients from their homes or offices and can choose how many hours they are willing to work online. Doctors can prescribe antibiotics and other drugs except for narcotics.

“;The good thing about this system is when a patient releases their history, a doctor has a pretty full background of your medical history just as if you were in the office,”; he said.