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Online doctor visits go live in Hawaii

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 26, 2009

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Hawaii Medical Services Assn., the islands' BlueCross BlueShield plan, has launched its system for online doctor visits and made the service available to all of the state's residents.

Hawaiians can see physicians via webcam or over the phone for $10 a visit if they are members of the Hawaii Blues plan; nonmembers pay $45.

Boston-based American Well provides the interface for the visits. HMSA network physicians may choose whether to offer virtual visits.

As of the Jan. 15 launch date, more than 140 physicians had signed up, according to the insurer. The specialties represented include general practice, family practice, cardiology, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, and urology, according to a news release from HMSA.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/01/26/bibf0126.htm.

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