Landscape of Business Models in Teledermatology

Because most states require that providers hold a medical license in the jurisdiction where their patient is physically located, physicians providing teledermatology services across state lines could face additional licensure requirements. However, these requirements would not be a barrier for physicians providing teledermatology services within the context of an in-state referral network. Licensure requirements generally do not restrict physician-to-physician consultations.⁷

Conclusion

As reimbursement models across medicine evolve and telemedicine continues to enhance delivery of care, we anticipate that quality-based reimbursement ultimately will drive successful utilization of teledermatology services. Telemedicine has been noted to be a cost-effective tool for coordinating care, maintaining quality, and improving patient satisfaction.⁸ Although none of the teledermatology business models surveyed currently incorporate incentives for faster case turnaround or higher patient satisfaction, we expect models to adjust as quality measures become more prevalent in the reimbursement landscape. Effective business models must be implemented to make teledermatology a feasible option for dermatologists to deliver care and patients to access care.