Teleconsultation: everything you need to know about treatment
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Published on
15/8/24
Since confinement, teleconsultation has taken off all over France. Its success can be explained by reduced consultation times and unnecessary travel. At the same time, it enables doctors and patients to respect barrier procedures by limiting direct contact.
By definition, teleconsultation is a remote medical consultation with a general practitioner or specialist. It takes place via a video platform or directly from a connected teleconsultation booth. How are patients treated? What about fee reimbursements? We answer your questions.
How does a teleconsultation work?
A medical teleconsultation works like a direct consultation. As a doctor, you'll need to educate your patients, who are unfamiliar with this system. In a telemedicine booth, you need to explain the proper use of connected tools and their qualities.
Step 1: Making an appointment
At Tessan, doctors have access to a secure platform where they can receive live teleconsultations. There's no need for a pre-booked appointment: the patient goes directly to the pharmacy and enters the telemedicine booth, with the promise of being put in touch with a GP within 15 minutes.
Step 2: Connecting to the video
Using the Tessan technology available in pharmacies, the connection is made from our secure platform.
For a standard teleconsultation, you receive a secure link that enables you to connect securely to the video platform. To do this, you need a computer or smartphone equipped with a camera. Make sure you have 4G or an Internet connection to guarantee call quality.
Tip: make sure you are present 5 minutes before the scheduled teleconsultation starts.
Step 3: Diagnosis
In traditional teleconsultation, the doctor asks you questions to establish an online diagnosis. Be as clear as possible in your answers, as the type of treatment to be prescribed depends on this.
With a gondola and 7 connected objects: blood pressure monitor, thermometer, stethoscope, otoscope, scale, dermatoscope, oximeter. Diagnosis is precise, and can lead to a prescription.
Step 4: Prescription
The doctor transmits his prescription, which takes the form of a medical order with or without medication:
- Or by e-mail via a secure messaging system,
- Or in electronic format.
With Tessan, the prescription is printed directly from the machine. All you have to do is pick up your medication at the pharmacy.
Step 5: Payment for teleconsultation
Online payment by credit card is preferable. In addition, the doctor has the right to refuse certain methods of payment, such as cheques or bank transfers.
Reimbursement for teleconsultation
Reimbursement terms are the same as for a conventional consultation. Teleconsultation is reimbursed at 100% by your Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie.
Health insurance reimbursement amount
For a teleconsultation, doctors' fees are the same as for a face-to-face consultation. In principle, health insurance reimburses patients covered by Social Security. These conditions must be met:
- Respect the coordinated care pathway,
- Choice of attending physician,
- Choice of doctor according to sector.
Following a teleconsultation, you will be reimbursed by your primary health insurance fund (CPAM). The reimbursement rate is :
- 70% for health insurance,
- 30% (co-payment) for supplementary health insurance.
In the event of a fee overrun, you are responsible for paying the costs of the teleconsultation. Choose a sector 1 doctor, whose fees are fully reimbursed by Social Security.
Teleconsultation with direct billing possible
As in the case of a direct consultation, third-party payment applies in full to :
- Pregnant women,
- Patients with long-term illnesses (ALD),
- Patients benefiting from complementary health insurance or assistance in acquiring complementary health insurance (CMU or ACS).
Mutuelle reimbursement for teleconsultation
Remote medical consultations are also reimbursed by the mutual health insurance company. This option supplements Social Security coverage for sector 2 and 3 doctors.
During teleconsultations with general practitioners and specialists, the patient's co-payment is covered. It is of course possible to charge a higher fee.
Teleconsultation reimbursed at 100
Are you a third-party payer? If so, your teleconsultation will be covered at 100%. In other words, you pay nothing.
Important note: even if they do not follow the coordinated healthcare pathway, some people may still be eligible for reimbursement. The conditions are not required if :
- The patient is under 16 years of age;
- The patient is in an emergency situation;
- The doctor has direct access to a range of specialties (ophthalmology, gynecology, cardiology, dentistry, etc.).
100% coverage of teleconsultations until the end of 2022
The principle of teleconsultation reimbursement has undergone a number of reforms.
Before the end of 2022: explanation of reimbursements
In view of the health crisis caused by Covid-19, teleconsultation will be fully reimbursed by Social Security until the end of 2022. Set during the state of health emergency, in full confinement, this measure provides for teleconsultation to be fully reimbursed by health insurance.
Voted in March 2020, the government has decided to extend full coverage with the aim of facilitating the use of telemedicine. Regardless of the reason for teleconsultation, this measure will continue to apply until the end of this period.
After 2022, how will patients be cared for?
Full coverage of teleconsultation is a bill that takes effect until the end of 2022. From that date onwards, the reimbursement criteria set by Social Security will revert to what they were before. In other words, health insurance will cover 70% of medical expenses. The remainder is a co-payment.
In any case, teleconsultations will be reimbursed at 100% for those benefiting from third-party payment. Beyond 2022, the mandatory teleconsultation reimbursement scheme will be reintroduced.
