Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the largest customer-owned health insurer in the United States, has launched a virtual primary care offering in two states.
The new primary care model will serve midsize and large employers in Texas and Illinois beginning Jan. 1, 2023. The move comes as more healthcare providers and businesses are expanding virtual care options. Virtual care soared in popularity during the COVID-19, and as more companies have sustained remote work and work-from-home policies, virtual primary care solutions can help employers with employees in different places receive care.
HCSC has partnered with Teladoc Health to supplement its network of providers and increase access to care. Similar to in-person care, members can keep the same Teladoc doctor if they choose for annual exams, preventive care, diagnosis and treatment for health concerns and management of chronic conditions.
“We know that having a primary care provider is associated with better overall health outcomes—fewer hospital visits, earlier detection of problems and improved management of chronic conditions,” Monica Berner, MD, chief clinical officer for HCSC, said in a statement. “The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the effectiveness and convenience of telehealth, so we continue to evolve our solutions to help members get care where and how they need and want it.”
Teladoc providers under the new model are available for phone or video primary care visits six days per week, with the ability to write prescriptions and refer members to in-person care if needed. Members have access to a primary care team that also includes a registered nurse and a medical assistant, as well as a welcome kit with a blood pressure cuff and heart rate monitor that can provide data to the care team.
The offering includes not just primary care, but also virtual urgent care that can be used to assess, diagnose and treat everyday issues such as a cold, flu or sinus infection any time. In addition, virtual behavioral health, including therapy, counseling and psychiatry, is available, as well as virtual dermatology, where members can upload images about their concerns and receive a reply within 48 business hours with a diagnosis or request for additional information.
HCSC has other digital healthcare options, including a digital mental health program, which provides behavioral health assessments and digital care management for members following surgeries for follow-up guidance via email, digital messaging portal and text message.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."