For UnityPoint Health patients, getting in touch with their doctor online will have a cost, WKOW reports.
A spokesperson for the Des Moines, Iowa-based healthcare system confirmed that UnityPoint Health may bill patients’ insurance providers for messages sent through the MyUnityPoint messaging system that require “a provider’s clinical time and medical expertise.”
The spokesperson said coverage for care through the portal varies by insurance policy. She said people with no insurance coverage or a high deductible will see costs ranging from $36 to $70.
According to UnityPoint Health’s website, the types of messages that may be billed to insurance include changes to a patient’s medication, new prescriptions, changes to or check-ups on a long-term condition and messages about new symptoms the patient has not discussed with their provider in the past seven days. Messages that “require extensive provider time to review a patient’s medical history” could also incur a fee. Read more.
