Improved Quality At Kaiser Permanente Through Doctor/Patient E-Mail

It should come as now surprise that as we give additional means of communication between health care providers and patients, quality would improve. Many EHRs have access to secure email via a Patient Portal. In fairness to the practices, however, reimbursement models will have to evolve to cover the time spent on emails and diverted from other activities. In the end however, all benefit. SV


Here is information on online CPT Codes:

CPT 99444 On-Line Medical Evaluation by a Physician

Online evaluation and management service provided by a physician to an established patient, guardian, or health care provider not originating from a related E/M service within the previous 7 days, using the Internet or similar electronic communications network.

CPT 98969 On-Line Medical Evaluation by a Non-Physician

Online assessment and management service provided by a qualified non-physician health care professional to an established patient, guardian, or health care provider not originating from a related E/M service within the previous 7 days, using the Internet or similar electronic communications network.

Health Affairs

AMA Guidelines

UnitedHealth Group's Online Personal Health Messages Tied to Increased Likelihood of Individuals

Email reminders via a Patient or Physician Portal are an excellent way to remind patients to avail themselves of preventative medicine services. SV

For example, women who opened their messages were 68-percent more likely to get a mammogram and 63-percent more likely to get a cervical cancer screening. The study compares CDH plan participants who accessed their online health messages throughout 2006 with those who were sent messages but did not open them.


Also, enrollees approaching their 50th birthday received a special message reminding them of a series of recommended preventive tests for their age group. Data show that members who opened this message were:

82-percent more likely to get a cervical cancer screening;
31-percent more likely to get a cholesterol screening;
71-percent more likely to have an office visit in which their blood pressure is checked.


UHC