[May 29, 2015] |
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Federal Court rules in favor of Teladoc, blocking Texas Medical Board rule and preserving telehealth in Texas
Millions of Texans will continue to benefit from telehealth, the
increasingly popular health care delivery method, after a federal court
today blocked a recent action by the Texas Medical Board. Issuing his
injunction, Judge Robert Pitman, U.S. District Court for the Western
District of Texas, indicated that Teladoc is likely to succeed in
showing that the revisions to Rule 190.8 adopted in April by the Texas
Medical Board illegally limit competition by requiring a face-to-face
visit before physicians are allowed to prescribe medication to patients.
Judge Pitman's ruling prohibits the enforcement of the revised rule
until after trial to determine whether it violates the law. This
decision marks the sixth occasion in the last four years that the courts
have sided with Teladoc against the Texas Medical Board's repeated
attempts to limit access to affordable, quality health care in the state.
"Not only is telehealth the wave of the future, but Texas physicians
have been treating patients without a prior in-person visit for
decades," said Jason Gorevic, chief executive officer of Teladoc, the
nation's first and largest telehealth company. "We are happy to be able
to continue serving Texas citizens, employers and health plans by
enabling them to access high-quality care in a cost-effective manner."
Teladoc provides 24/7 access to affordable, high-quality medical care
via phone or interactive video, and treats people experiencing
non-emergency medical issues such as sinus problems, urinary tract
infections, bronchitis and poison ivy. The company, which operates
across the country, has been serving Texans for more than 10 years and
has more than 2.4 million members in the state.
The medical board, charged with regulating medical practice in Texas,
adopted revisions to Rule 190.8 on April 10. Teladoc filed a lawsuit on
April 29 against the Texas Medical Board and its members asserting that,
in adopting its revisions to the rule, they violated federal law,
including the Sherman Antitrust Act, which has protected free-market
business innovations from cartels and monopolies for more than 100 years.
Prior to adopting the revised rule, the Texas Medical Board received
hundreds of comments from consumers, physicians, and businesses opposing
the revisions to Rule 190.8 and supporting both the efficacy and the
safety of telehealth. "The medical board claims to be motivated by
concerns about patient safety," said Adam Vandervoort, chief legal
officer of Teladoc. "However, they failed to produce evidence during
their rulemaking process to support the position that telehealth poses a
patient safety risk. Additionally, the board offered no evidence of any
harm done by telehealth during the federal court proceeding in
opposition to Teladoc's request for an injunction."
In fact, Teladoc reports independently verified results of 95 percent
customer satisfaction and 92 percent of patient medical issues resolved.
All Teladoc physicians are board-certified and state-licensed, with an
average of 20 years of experience. Teladoc is the first and only
telehealth provider certified by the National Committee for Quality
Assurance and has never been the subject of a malpractice claim.
"With this latest episode behind us, we look forward to delivering the
full value of telehealth to the people of Texas indefinitely," said
Gorevic. "In the face of increasing physician shortages and rising
health care costs, other states across the country have found solutions
that embrace telehealth, and all its benefits, while ensuring patient
safety. Today's court ruling allows Texans to continue enjoying these
benefits as well."
About Teladoc
Founded in 2002, Teladoc is the nation's first and leading telehealth
provider with 10 million members and is on track to conduct more than
500,000 consults during 2015. Teladoc provides 24/7 access to
affordable, high-quality medical care for adults and children
experiencing non-emergency medical issues via phone, secure online
video, mobile app or web. Through a directly-managed network of
U.S.-based, board-certified physicians, Teladoc delivers a 95 percent
patient satisfaction rate with an average response time of less than 10
minutes. Teladoc is the first and only telehealth provider to receive
certification from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
for its physician credentialing process, scoring 100 percent. Recognized
by Fast Company as "One of World's Most Innovative Companies in
Health Care" in 2013, Teladoc partners with health plans, corporations,
organizations and patients seeking accessible and affordable
high-quality medical care. For more information, please visit
teladoc.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150529006159/en/
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