Future Integration, Coverage for Telemedicine in Multiple Sclerosis: Marisa McGinley, DO

WATCH TIME: 4 minutes

“In addition to making sure that we show outcome data that our patients are doing fine and doing OK with not coming in, the other thing we need is to really fine-tune what the safe and also the most advantageous kind of schedule for visits is.”

Following her talk at a recent Institutional Perspectives in Neurology: Multiple Sclerosis event, Marisa McGinley, DO, staff neurologist, Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, Cleveland Clinic, sat down with NeurologyLive^® to discuss telemedicine and its benefits, as well as how it can continue to be incorporated as a tool for clinical care in the field of multiple sclerosis. According to McGinley, data on positive patient outcomes will be needed to continue the push for telemedicine’s integration, as well as addressing coverage and payers to ensure patients are reimbursed for virtual visits. 

McGinley further commented the need to consider how often patients will need to be seen in person, developing an appropriate visit schedule that is specific to individual patient needs. Quality measures can be performed either in person or virtually, she said, noting that the American Academy of Neurology has established a committee on developing quality measures for neurologists to demonstrate the value of their care. Licensure was also addressed, which can create issues for neurologists and health care providers that practice on state borders, where patients may be visiting their practice from outside of state boundaries. 

For more coverage of the Institutional Perspectives in Neurology: Multiple Sclerosis events, click here.