Workers’ compensation benefits exist to ensure injured workers receive the financial assistance they need. This system has been around to compensated injured employees for over a hundred years. In this day and age, technology is increasing and allows information to be readily available to people at the tip of their fingers. With this rise in technology, the healthcare field has seen the rise of telehealth. This allows healthcare to be received remotely by means of technology. California is the most recent state to involve themselves in telehealth, by adding the option to its list of services for worker’s compensation in the state.
The State Compensation Insurance Fund was created in 1914 by California’s state legislature. As of recently, they have announced their partnership with the telehealth provider Kura MD. This will allow the insurance fund to give injured employees on-demand access to healthcare. This will ensure care to injured workers 24 hours a day for every day of the week.
Telehealth will provide several new services through a mobile device that injured employees do not already have. They will have the opportunity to connect with care providers through their phones for initial evaluations of injuries that occur on the job. In addition to this, medical benefits will include:
- Alternatives to after-hour emergency room visits
- Help managing non-emergency work injuries
- Options for follow-up care, such as post-operative visits
Dinesh Govindarao is the Chief Medical Officer of The State Compensation Insurance Fund. In a press release regarding telehealth, he stated, “By offering an easy-to-use, convenient telehealth option for our injured workers, we’re providing them a way to access a variety of types of care more quickly and with less required travel time.”
While telehealth is new to workers’ compensation, it is experiencing growth throughout different states. California is joining a number of states that are either adding or considering using telemedicine for their workers’ compensation insurances. These decisions stemmed from the rising costs for businesses to provide care and rehab services to employees that become injured while at work. Several states see telehealth as a way to speed up the process of caring for injured employees so that they are able to get back to work and get their lives back on track sooner rather than later.
If you have become the victim of an on the job injury, it may be beneficial to speak with an attorney and the doctor that is treating you to determine how to make the process as easy as possible. AllianceMeds understands that a workplace accident can be challenging and is here to help. We will deliver your medication to your door using overnight delivery and cover any out of pocket expenses that may arise. If you have any questions about how we can help, contact AllianceMeds today.