Telemedicine Receives A-Rating in Mississippi

Here’s something you don’t often hear: Mississippi has received an A rating in a health care category.

Mississippi is one of only seven states to receive an A from the American Telemedicine Association in a report released Monday. The report grades state policies, A-F, on reimbursement and physician practices for telemedicine — providing remote access to care through internet and video technology.

The states with the highest grades are Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Tennessee and Virginia. Those with the lowest grades were Connecticut, Iowa and Rhode Island.

Mississippi has been on the cutting edge with telemedicine. It promises to help improve care in places like Mississippi, which has a shortage of primary care physicians and other services, particularly in rural areas. The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Center for Telehealth has received national recognition, and federal funding, for its advancements in remote patient monitoring.

Gov. Phil Bryant has supported telehealth initiatives in Mississippi. On Monday he thanked the state Legislature for passage this year of a law that requires all health insurance plans in the state to cover telemedicine practices and reimbursements.

“Telemedicine is closing the gap for many rural patients around the state,” Bryant said.

Mississippi U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper has been a lead proponent of telemedicine in Congress. He has been pushing two measures to improve federal Medicare reimbursement and other policies on telemedicine. Recently, Harper brought then-Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., to Mississippi for a visit that included a tour of UMMC’s telehealth center.

UMMC began its first telehealth work in 2003 with the TelEmergency pilot project. That work has grown into a network with hospitals and clinics across the state, providing access to numerous specialties including cardiology, psychiatry and radiology. In March, UMMC received a USDA grant to place equipment and provide services to sites in nine Appalachian counties and one in the Delta.

Bryant recently announced a pilot partnership between the state, North Sunflower Medical Center and corporate sponsors to help diabetes patients in the Delta through telemedicine, providing 200 patients with special internet tablets for medical services.