Shea RossDirector of Development and Government Affairs

Global Partnership for TeleHealth

• Georgia Partnership for TeleHealth has 63 SBTC in Georgia in 16 school districts

• Utilizing the school nurse, students can see physicians via telemedicine without leaving their school

• Cuts down on student absences, better ability to control communicable diseases, less demand on families

• SBTC’s are not free clinics, insurance is billed normally.

• Cost saving families includes:• travel expenses • time of work• Care for other children

This is the potential of School Based telehealth

School Based Telemedicine Centers (SBTC)

Sustainability

Sources Number

Federal Government 46*

State Government 9

County/City Government 0

Local/Regional Medical Centers 10

Local School Boards 22

Private Funds 2

Funding Sources

*HRSA funds used for start-up; most funding has expired or is about to expire (those that are expired are also represented in other funding categories)

• In Georgia, schools are considered a approved telemedicine presentation sites which allows billing

• SB183 allows school nurses to work with 3rd party health providers, allowing connections with physicians via telemedicine

• Currently DCH is working with Amerigroup, Coffee County Schools and Ware County Schools to pilot a Medicaid billing process

• Estimated that by January 2016 the Medicaid school billing process will be in use.

• Q3014 billing code ($20.52 per encounter)

Telemedicine Billing and Schools

UtilizationServices Numbers

Primary Care for Students AND Faculty 49

Primary Care for Students ONLY 14

Specialty Care Services for Students (including mental health)

49

Mental Health only 2

Oral Health* 1

Sees Patients other than those enrolled at the school

0

Uses an electronic Health Record 12**

*Clinic and equipment are in place, services have not yet begun**Funding via a grant

Utilization continued

• Spring semester of 2015 (January – June), 421 patients were seen via telemedicine in Georgia’s schools

• These appointments ranged from Primary Care to specialty care including psychiatric services.

PROVIDERS AND PRESENTERS• GPT has approximately 240 providers in the network,

ranging from primary care to specialists• It is the goal of GPT to connect schools to providers in their

local area and not extract business/medical services from the local economy.

• Continuity of care is maintained as much as possible, especially when local services are available for telemedicine.

• In situations where a provider is not available within the community, GPT looks to surrounding counties then eventually to metropolitan areas to find services.

• All providers and presenters are trained in telemedicine through GPT’s staff as well as through online certification courses

• Providers must be an RN, LPN, or CNA to present patients to providers and utilize billable services in our network

Models

• Coffee County School System• Ware County School System• Upson County School System (behavioral

health only)• Turner County Elementary School • Tattnall County School System • Pulaski County School System• Whitefoord School Based Health Center (2016)