Consultations

Telemedicines

Telemedicine consultations are a wonderful option if you are unable to come in for an office visit, if you live out of town, or simply if you wish to speak to one of our physicians from the comfort of your home.

What is a Telemedicine?

A Telemedicine is a video conference with a physician using a HIPAA compliant software. We highly recommend you use a laptop or computer for your visit, but you may participate in a telemedicine with a tablet, phone, or any internet- capable device with video and microphone access.

During a Telemedicine:

It is important to treat this consultation like an in-person office visit. If you need any documentation to excuse yourself from work or school, please let us know. Please be sure to arrange childcare and/or be sure your kiddos will be in a safe place so you can conduct the consultation in a quiet area. The doctor will not do an exam via telemedicine, but instead conduct a thorough review of the most recent medical records and pictures of the patient's condition in preparation for the consultation. We recommend optimizing your visit with Dr. Snodgrass by writing out your questions and concerns in advance so that nothing is missed. If you would like, you can reply to this email with those questions so that I can provide them to Dr. Snodgrass prior to this visit. This will help him understand your goals for the telemed, and ensure you have all of your questions and concerns addressed during the consultation. These consultations are typically about 30 minutes in length, similar to a physical consultation.

Most major insurance companies provide some coverage for virtual visits. If you need help finding out if your insurance offers virtual visit coverage, please contact Missy at surgery@hypospadias.com with your insurance details. If your insurance does not offer any coverage, we offer private pay options as well.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is there a fee for telemedicine care? 

Yes, there is a fee of $250 for telemedicine video consultations if you choose to not use an in-network insurance we accept.

Will my insurance cover telemedicine care? 

This depends on your specific benefit plan. If you would like to determine this, call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask if you have telehealth benefits. Some insurances only cover telehealth benefits through certain telehealth softwares so be sure to ask if they cover Doxy.me. Once you have that information be sure to get a reference number for the call and the person you spoke with so we can verify the information provided is correct. 

How much will telemedicine care cost if I use my insurance? 

If you have an in-network insurance plan which covers telemedicine care, these fees are defined by your specific plan. The most common insurance fees we see allow between $200.00-$450.00 for a telemedicine video consultation. Your benefits will determine who will pay that amount.  

What if my insurance plan doesn't cover telemedicine care?/What if I do not have insurance at this time? 

Dr. Snodgrass offers a flat rate of $250.00 which includes all email correspondence and a telemedicine video consultation. If you decide later that you would like to seek reimbursement from insurance, we are happy to provide receipts and records for your visit so that you can submit that to your plan.

What system do you use for telemedicine video consultations? 

We utilize Doxy.me which is a HIPAA secure service. We will send you a link prior to the telemedicine consultation so that you can test the service and be sure you can use it on your computer. It is fairly easy and only requires a strong internet connection.

Once you've scheduled a telemedicine consultation, I am sure you'll be wanting to know what to expect next. 

Here's how it will work: It is important to treat this consultation like an in-person office visit. If you need any documentation to excuse yourself from work or school, please let us know. Please be sure to arrange childcare and/or be sure your kiddos will be in a safe place so you can conduct the consultation in a quiet area. The doctor will conduct a thorough review of the most recent medical records and pictures of the patient's condition in preparation for the consultation. We recommend optimizing your visit with Dr. Snodgrass by writing out your questions and concerns in advance so that nothing is missed. If you would like, you can reply to this email with those questions so that I can provide them to Dr. Snodgrass prior to this visit. This will help him understand your goals for the telemed, and ensure you have all of your questions and concerns addressed during the consultation. These consultations are typically about 30 minutes in length, similar to a physical consultation. 

How to Schedule a Telemedicine: 

To schedule, please email Alexis at scheduling@hypospadias.com and she will offer you our available times and provide instruction about what is required prior to your visit.