Nirisha P Lakshmi, Thippaiah Srinagesh Mannekote, Fargason Rachel E, Malathesh Barikar C, Manjunatha Narayana, Math Suresh Bada, Birur Badari, Kumar Channaveerachari Naveen
Dept. of Psychiatry, Telemedicine Centre, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Valleywise Behavioral Health-Maryvale, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Indian J Psychol Med. 2020 Oct 20;42(5 Suppl):92S-97S. doi: 10.1177/0253717620963274. eCollection 2020 Oct.
Telepsychiatry is a cost-effective alternative to in-person psychiatric consultations. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a sharp spike in the utilization of telepsychiatry due to ongoing restrictions on gatherings and traveling. In recognition of the importance of telemedicine in general, and telepsychiatry specifically, telemedicine practice guidelines and telepsychiatry operational guidelines have been released. Due to the rising trend in telemedicine, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDIA) incorporated teleconsultation health insurance coverage at a level on par with regular in-person consultations. In contrast, in the United States of America, private insurance coverage for telepsychiatry has been in vogue for some time. In this paper we draw comparisons between India and the United States on telepsychiatry and health insurance. We compare the evolving regulatory policies of these two countries in relation to existing insurances plans that are available, the challenges in implementation of new regulations and the possible ways to overcome the challenges to make telepsychiatry affordable to all.
远程精神病学是面对面精神科会诊的一种经济高效的替代方式。由于对集会和出行的持续限制，2019年冠状病毒病疫情导致远程精神病学的利用率急剧飙升。鉴于远程医疗总体上的重要性，特别是远程精神病学的重要性，已经发布了远程医疗实践指南和远程精神病学操作指南。由于远程医疗的上升趋势，印度保险监管和发展局（IRDIA）将远程会诊医疗保险覆盖范围设定为与常规面对面会诊相当的水平。相比之下，在美国，远程精神病学的私人保险覆盖已经流行了一段时间。在本文中，我们对印度和美国在远程精神病学和医疗保险方面进行了比较。我们比较了这两个国家在现有保险计划方面不断演变的监管政策、新法规实施中的挑战以及克服这些挑战以使所有人都能负担得起远程精神病学的可能方法。
