While recalling with a wink that use of the stethoscope was the first example of telemedicine, lawyer Philippe Vanlangendonck asks: why have we had a law on the electronic signature since 2002 and each of us has received an electronic identity card, but it still does not appear to be possible for doctors to create electronic medical certificates? He points out that the electronic healthcare sheet has existed officially in France since 1998. And then, this question leads to another: how should telemedicine practice be remunerated?
A series of possibilities for remunerating telemedicine are then explored based on a definition of telemedicine, e.g. the creation of new nomenclature numbers for medical telemedicine procedures, the establishment of an annual lump sum or other payment to pay for such procedures, or the classification of reimbursed medical teleconsultation procedures at the same rate as corresponding traditional consultations.
