E-Visits Replace 40% of Office Visits in Mayo Clinic Pilot

OPEN MINDS Weekly News Wire Strategic Health Care News In a pilot program conducted by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, consumers who had preregistered to use an on-line portal for consultations with primary care physicians affiliated with the Mayo Clinic’s Department of Family Medicine conducted 40% of their office visits via technology-enabled intermediaries. The pilot program took place from November 1, 2007, through October 31, 2009. Each e-visit cost $35, and the cost of the visit was billed to the participants’ health plan carriers. If the cost of services was not covered by insurance, patients . . .