Under Illinois laws, telehealth encompasses the evaluation, diagnosis, and interpretation of all patient information transmitted electronically from a different location with which a licensed health care professional, after proper assessment, can provide all possible treatment options. This includes telemedicine, where interactive telecommunications systems such as electronic or telephonic means are utilized for the same purpose.
Telemedicine may seem like a broad concept, and any form of medical communication may easily be taken to render this type of health care. Illinois telehealth laws, however, explicitly excludes the following in the definition of telemedicine:
- Health care services rendered or availed of when either the state-licensed health care professional or an existing patient is traveling;
- Periodic consultations delivered by a state-licensed professional to an individual who is not located within the state of Illinois;
- A second opinion when the recipient thereof is also a state-licensed health care professional;
- Diagnosis or treatment services by a provider who is licensed in other states to a patient within the state of Illinois as a continuation of the initial treatment rendered in the state where the said provider is licensed;
When it comes to reimbursement of telehealth services, Medicaid members can expect more benefits than private payers since there are no existing parity laws in the state. It is all up to the discretion of the health care insurance plan provider to reimburse any services rendered through telehealth.
Some sections of the state’s Medical Practice Act are scheduled to be repealed on the first day of 2022. There are several pending bills expanding telehealth services, insurance coverage, parity act, teleoptometry, epilepsy in telehealth, teledentistry, and many others before the Senate and the House. If passed into law, these would change healthcare in Illinois, given the big improvement in accessibility these bills would bring.
Find out what makes telemedicine and telehealth stand out in Illinois:
Unmatched Feature of Telemedicine in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Human Services features a Telehealth Resources section that provides all Illinoisans information regarding the latest updates, laws, news, free toolkits, webinars, and other tips on using this mode of availing health care services.
This shows initiative on the part of the state government to inform and guide its constituents about this growing and prevailing service of telehealth.
Illinois State Telemedicine Laws and Policies
Who can practice telemedicine in Illinois?
A health care professional only has the authority to render telehealth services within the state of Illinois if he or she is a state license holder or is given authority to do so by proper authorities.
Once licensed, a telemedicine provider can perform any of these acts:
- Use the title Doctor, Physician, Surgeon or attach to his or her name the suffixes M.D., D, C., or D.O. and any other similar title that would indicate the nature of his or her profession and specialization;
- Make themselves known to the public as one who can diagnose and treat medical conditions, whether physical or mental, such as injuries, disorders, deformities, and diseases;
- Recommend treatment options that will alleviate, offer relief, or cure altogether the medical condition of a patient for a corresponding fee which can be in any form;
- Prescribe medications that he or she deems necessary for the improvement of the medical status of the patient;
Professional healthcare workers are always limited to the scope of their practice as provided in the license issued to them. The following are construed to be health care professionals allowed to practice through telehealth:
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
- Audiologists
- Clinical Psychologists
- Clinical Social Workers
- Dentists
- Hearing Instrument Dispensers
- Mental Health Clinicians
- Mental Health Professionals
- Occupational Therapists
- Optometrists
- Pharmacists
- Physical Therapists
- Physician Assistants
- Physicians
- Prescribing Psychologists
- Speech-Language Pathologists
If the service falls under medical services, the provider can either be an advanced practice nurse, physician, physician assistant, or podiatrist. If the health care service falls under psychiatric services, the provider must have finished a psychiatry residency program (either a General or Child and Adolescent program) approved by the appropriate agency.
Out-of-State Telehealth Provider
All out-of-state telemedicine providers, once rendering such service to individuals located in the state of Illinois, are automatically subjected to the laws and jurisdiction of the courts in this state.
The state of Illinois has different requirements for out-of-state providers depending on the field under which the service rendered falls. Generally, the provider must be licensed within the state of Illinois or in the state where the patient is located.
Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
The state of Illinois is currently serving as a State of Principal License (SPL) under the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. This means that a physician licensed in Illinois to practice medicine can use such a license for Compact registration purposes.
If granted, the licensed physician will be issued an authority or certification to practice in another member state subject to the latter guidelines and scope of practice.
Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact
Illinois is a member of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), allowing telepsychology within the state by mental health professionals licensed in other states.
The Commission grants the Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) to psychologists from member states. The applicant psychologist must be a holder of a full and unrestricted license in his or her Home State and must provide further attestations to practice in different jurisdictions.
He or she must likewise obtain an E.Passport Certificate from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). To be issued one, he or she must possess the following qualifications:
- Active psychology license
- Doctoral degree holder in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association
- Submission of official transcripts by the granting institution
- Not subject to any disciplinary action
- Passing score for the Examination for Professional Practice
- Three hours of mandatory continuing education about technology and how it can be used in the practice of psychology
- Annual renewal
The PSYPACT provides a mechanism for various state laws to meet at a certain level, thereby allowing the practice of telepsychology in different member states even though the psychologist is just licensed under one state. The prevailing scope of practice that will be followed will be that of the receiving state.
Aside from facilitating the practice of cross-state telepsychology, they also give authority for temporary in-person practice subject to more stringent regulations.
Standard of Care
The standard of care to be observed in delivering health services through telehealth shall be matched with that in an in-person setting. All laws must be complied with, and ethical guidelines must be strictly observed.
Informed Consent
In other states, before starting any telehealth sessions, the patient or recipient of the service must first be informed of its nature, how it is to be delivered and the modality to be used, his or her rights, and given clarifications about any queries he or she may have. Only then can the patient give his or her consent which the provider must properly document and keep in the patient’s medical record.
The provider has no legal obligation to obtain such consent and can already proceed directly with the patient’s telehealth service at the first interaction. However, a good and prudent medical practitioner would still exert reasonable effort to secure the same.
Confidentiality
Telehealth in Illinois observes the federal guidelines outlined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) when it comes to securing a patient’s protected medical information. These pieces of information must be kept private and confidential. Third parties must not have any access to them and shall not link any medical condition to a specific patient just if such information is used for research and clinical purposes.
E-prescription
The state of Illinois is yet to release laws or guidelines on online prescribing. However, the standard of care required of telehealth practitioners must also be observed when prescribing medications online.
Utmost medical diligence must be practiced in issuing online prescriptions. Requiring an in-person visit before prescribing drugs, especially those considered controlled substances, would uphold the standard of care expected of medical health professionals. That is until legislators would enact a law regulating this matter.
Teledentistry
This is a combination of the practice of dentistry and the technological aspect of telemedicine through both synchronous and asynchronous modalities. It covers both patient care and education revolving around dental health.
Dentists are not the only ones allowed to deliver services via telehealth. Any person acting under a dentist’s authority and supervision may likewise aid in delivering telehealth care services.
State Reimbursement Policy
All covered health care services delivered in-person shall likewise be considered and reimbursed when rendered through the different telehealth modalities.
A medical record shall be maintained by both the originating and distant site, stating, among other things, the following:
- Date when the telehealth service transpired, including the time it started and ended;
- Distant site’s locations;
- Medical necessity or reason for availing of the telehealth service
- Name and license information of the health care professional who was at the originating site accompanying the patient;
- Name and license number of the distant site provider and other additional information like whether the physician is a holder of an approved general or child and adolescent psychiatry residency completion certificate in the case of telepsychiatry;
- Originating site’s location;
- Type of the interactive telecommunication system used by both parties during the service;
For telemedicine to be reimbursable, both the originating or patient’s site and the distant or provider’s site must not be barred from the medical programs of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. There shall be an exchange of medical data between the provider and patient through telecommunication systems which must comply with the minimum qualities required. It must have the capacity to allow the provider to sufficiently examine the patient and render an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan. Heart tones and lung sounds must also be audible if transmitted through the system, and all video and image data, including radiographs, must also be clear.
Telepsychiatry services and the general conditions required by the Department, communication between the health care professional and patient at a health facility must be through interactive telecommunications systems that allow two-way and real-time interaction with both audio and video qualities. It must also be rendered personally by a licensed provider, such as a licensed mental health professional. Group psychotherapy, although categorized under telepsychiatry, is not a covered service.
What services are reimbursed in the state of Illinois?
By IL Medicaid:
- Live Video
X Store-and-Forward
- Remote Patient Monitoring
X Standalone or combination e-consults through telephone, e-mail, text message, or facsimile
Medicaid telehealth reimbursements must have the same rates for similar in-person services. Generally, applications for reimbursement will only be approved if both the originating and distant sites are medical facilities.
Live Video
For providers such as physicians and other health care professionals who are with the patient at the originating site to be reimbursed, their presence is a must during the telehealth service. The same is also true for clinicians, mental health professionals, and qualified mental health professionals regarding telepsychiatry services.
Illinois Medicaid also reimburses facility fees when it comes to rendering services via live video telehealth. Some of the sites eligible for reimbursement of facility fees are as follows:
- Community mental health centers
- Encounter Rate Clinics
- Federally Qualified Health Centers
- Local health departments
- Outpatient hospitals
- Physician’s office
- Podiatrist’s office
- Rural Health Clinics
The U.S. Department of Human Services Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse’s duly licensed centers are likewise reimbursable if the patient uses its premises as a location at the time of availing the telehealth service.
In the case of encounter clinics which includes Federally Qualified Health Center and Rural Health Clinics serving as originating sites, they are responsible for reimbursing the enrolled provider at the distant site. That is why they must properly document the provider’s compliance with the requirements set forth by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The distant site providers cannot seek direct reimbursement from the Department in this case. This is also the rule when the provider is not enrolled with the Department.
Store-and-Forward
Asynchronous store-and-forward technology has been defined as a modality of telehealth wherein the provider can review the patient’s medical case even when the latter is not present and is usually in the single media format. Dermatological photographs can be considered fitting a single media format and those other adequate images to allow a physician to diagnose and render treatment on the patient’s specific medical condition.
Telephone calls, transmissions through facsimile machines, text messages, and electronic mails are not considered as included in the definition of store-and-forward.
No laws provide coverage or reimbursement of store-and-forward telehealth services despite being defined under Illinois laws. The silence of the law on its coverage is reinforced by the requirement of a live video modifier on all telehealth services.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Items or equipment used for home uterine monitoring is covered as long as it is with prior approval of the appropriate agency and the following criteria are met:
- Cervical effacement
- Cessation of labor through the administration of tocolytics such as Terbutaline and Procardia
- Contraction threshold
- Dilation or lengthening of the cervix
- Discharged on oral or subcutaneous tocolytics at home
- Gestation of at least 24 weeks
- Gestation of less than 24 weeks with submission of additional information
- Gravida/para
- Multiple gestation pregnancy
- Preterm labor hospitalization at 24 to 36 weeks
- Preterm labor and delivery history
For pregnancy-induced hypertension monitor to be covered, the patient’s case must fall under any of the following:
- Antihypertensive medications
- Blood pressure readings, including pre-pregnancy
- Blurred vision
- Hospitalization due to pregnancy-induced symptoms such as headaches, hypertension, and edge in the face, hands, or feet
- Pain on the right upper quadrant
- Pre-eclampsia
- Urine results showing more than 300 mg of total protein within 24 hours
It is the items that are subject to reimbursement and not the actual service. It does not encompass the days when the equipment is at the patient’s home but is rather computed based on the days they are used. Use of the same in hospitals or other facilities is likewise not covered. Patients who are diagnosed with chronic hypertension do not qualify under this reimbursement setup.
Remote patient monitoring for elderly patient care is also covered and reimbursed by Medicaid.
By Private Payer or other health care service plan providers:
- Live Video
X Store-and-Forward
X Remote Patient Monitoring
X Standalone or combination e-consults through e-mail, text message, or facsimile
There is no private payer parity law in Illinois, and health care plan providers are not mandated to cover telehealth services. If they do, they must only comply with the minimum requirements set forth by law.
A health care service plan provider may not require the following before granting coverage and reimbursement:
- In-person interaction between the patient and the provider
- Documentation of any barrier to in-person consultation and reason why telehealth service was availed of instead
- Make the use of telehealth compulsory against the medical judgment of the provider
- Make the use of telehealth compulsory when the patient opts for an in-person consultation
Deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance amount to be billed in telehealth services shall never exceed the amount required to be paid for the same services rendered in person.
When a health insurance plan provider includes telehealth in their list of covered services, licensed dietitian nutritionists and certified diabetes educators shall likewise be included in the docket of reimbursable providers on the condition that they render the service to a senior diabetes patient at home.
Who can avail of these reimbursements?
- Advanced Practice Nurse
- Certified Diabetes Educators
- Clinical Psychologists
- Clinical Social Workers
- Licensed Dietitian Nutritionists
- Physician Assistants
- Physicians
- Podiatrists
- Psychiatrists
Public Health Emergency (PHE)
Public health emergencies like the Covid-19 pandemic affect the state’s constituents and medical personnel. The state of Illinois has released rules and guidelines to be followed during these uncertain times to help providers and patients alike in rendering and availing of health care services in the safety of their homes or offices. Most of the directives aim to expand coverage and reimbursements for telehealth services and permit other forms of modalities in addition to those expressly recognized under state laws.
Here are some PHE-related services and benefits:
- A patient’s residence, which could be within the state of Illinois or temporarily outside the state, is considered reimbursable originating sites.
- Reimbursable distant site providers can be any of the following:
- Advanced Practiced Registered Nurse with psychiatric and mental health nursing certifications
- Behavioral Health Clinic
- Community Health Agency
- Community Mental Health Center
- Dentist
- Encounter Rate Clinic
- Federally Qualified Health Center
- Hospital
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Local Education Agency
- Local Health Department
- Physical, Speech, or Occupational Therapist
- Practitioners already enumerated under existing laws
- Rural Health Clinic
- School-Based Health Center
- Store-and-forward that fits the definition of a telecommunication system is now considered eligible for reimbursement.
- Facility fee reimbursements are extended to certified eligible originating sites such as providers who are reimbursed for the room and board of the patient like Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled, Nursing Facilities, Community Integrated Living arrangement (CILA) providers, Hospice providers, and Support Living Program providers in addition to facilities already whose fees are already covered even before the public health emergency.
- Other communication systems used in conjunction with synchronous modalities that would equal the nature and amount of service in in-person consultations are reimbursable.
- The presence of the health care professional at the originating site at all times is no longer required.
- All telecommunication systems, synchronous or asynchronous, even though not passing the standards under HIPAA, are allowed to be used for telehealth services.
- The following services, although not falling within the definition of telehealth services, are currently being reimbursed during the existence of the public health emergency:
- Services availed of via brief communication technologies such as virtual check-ins between a provider and an established patient through synchronous audio-only or two-way telephone interactions that are enhanced with other forms of data transmission technology like videos;
- E-visits through online patient portals that are initiated and given consent by the patient who has an existing established relationship with the provider;
- Synchronous telephone or video interactions utilized in behavioral health services including mental health disorders and substance use disorders but not the Mobile Crisis Response and Crisis Stabilization service;
Documentation requirements must still be complied with by both the originating and distant sites despite the existence of a public health emergency.
10 Top-rated Online Doctors and Telemedicine Providers in Illinois
Whether you reside permanently or temporarily in Illinois, you can get telemedicine services from online doctors licensed to provide such service within the state. Some offer primary and urgent care, while some specialize in a certain medical field. No matter what your medical concern is, you can be sure to find the top-rated telemedicine providers in the state of Illinois that can provide you with the best service in the list below.
Mindful Urgent Care
- Prescription
- HIPAA Compliant
- Board Certified Psychiatrist, Therapists, Mental Health Professionals
- Insurance
At Mindful Urgent Care, you can expect urgent care to be provided to you on the same day you booked an appointment. They accommodate all individuals from children starting the age of 12 to elderly beyond the age of 65. They specialize in treating individuals who are suffering from anxiety, bipolar disorder, and depression. But they also provide other telehealth services that address the following issues and medical conditions:
- Alcohol and Drug Addiction
- Anger Management
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Chronic Illness
- Conduct Disorder
- Eating Disorders
- Elderly Person Disorders
- Grief and Bereavement
- Insomnia
- Life Adjustment concerns
- Men’s Issues
- Mood disorders
- Narcissistic Personality
- Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Panic Disorders
- Paranoia
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
- Women’s Issues
They provide therapeutic services, customized assessment, and treatment plans, as well as psychiatric medication management. They utilize the GeneSight test to determine whether medication is the best course of treatment for your mental health concern. They also issue prescription refills, but they don’t prescribe controlled substances and other habit-forming medications.
The only available cognitive behavioral therapy is the Mindfit Group Therapy as they do not offer individual therapies for this type. They have different group therapies that address specific mental health issues: Calm for anxiety, Rise for mental skills, Hope for depression, Red for anger management, Connect for relationships, Recover for substance use, and Wise for emotions. This way, you get to interact, offer and receive support from similarly situated individuals, thereby building a community where there is no judgment.
Mindful Urgent Care currently caters to Chicago residents only and not in other counties or cities in the state of Illinois.
Locations/Cities Served: Fulton Park, Lincoln Park
UChicago Medicine
- Prescription
- HIPAA Compliant
- Board Certified Pediatricians, Gastroenterologist, Cardiologist, General Physician
- Insurance
Online visits at UChicago Medicine are no different than the health care you receive in their clinics. You can either choose to set video appointments or simply opt for an e-visit. In the latter, you only have to complete an online questionnaire and wait for a response from one of their clinicians through the MyChart app, downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.
They have a kids’ medicine department called Comer Children’s. You can have your kids’ consultation either through phone or by video. The child’s presence is a must for every visit since they are examined and assessed. They have pediatric specialists for diabetes, cancer, internal medicine, gastroenterology, and multidisciplinary who can impart their expertise in the field.
For adult care, they specialize in the following disciplines:
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Family Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Ophthalmology
They already accommodate a wide range of non-urgent concerns via telehealth, but they can also address more complex medical conditions through their clinics and hospital. You can have an initial consultation virtually and have further in-office evaluations scheduled through the virtual appointment.
They have second opinion services online where you get to be informed about your complex medical condition. They can also help you choose which treatment plan would give you a better chance of getting cured or other available treatments than what was initially presented to you.
Location/City Served: Chicago
UI Health
- Prescription
- HIPAA Compliant
- Board Certified Internists, Pediatricians, OB-gynes, Geriatrician, Family Medicine Doctors
- Insurance
You can choose to have your virtual visits by video call or avail of some services by phone. They see both children and adults, but parents and guardians of minors shall be present during the virtual visit.
They accommodate non-urgent medical conditions only via telehealth. Some of these conditions are and may fall in the following categories:
- Allergy
- Asthma
- Audiology
- Breast Care
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Diabetes
- Geriatrics
- Gynecology
- High Blood Pressure
- Male Infertility
- Mental Health
- Metabolism
- Nutrition and Wellness
- Orthopedics
- Pain Management
- Pediatrics
- Radiology
- Weight Management
There are still a lot of other medical conditions that they can address. To save time, you may call their scheduling representative first to confirm if your medical case will allow you to be seen virtually by their health care professionals.
Aside from medical consultations, they also provide ways for educating patients about a healthy lifestyle like exercise, diet, enough sleep, and changes that have to be made or habits to be broken.
If you are a new patient, you need to sign their authorization and consent for treatment form. Prescription refills can easily be done through the MyChart app downloadable through the App Store and Google Play. You can also communicate with your physician through the app for follow-ups and other concerns not addressed during the virtual visit.
Location/City Served: Chicago
At Your Service Psychiatry
- Prescription
- HIPAA Compliant
- Licensed Clinicians, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, Therapists
X Insurance
Telepsychiatry is the primary service offered by this online platform, along with psychiatric evaluations and medication management. Every visit comes with a brief therapy that works best when attended in conjunction with therapies you have with your existing counselors. They offer services to more than 20 states, but their main office is located in Bloomingdale, Illinois.
The following mental health conditions are treated and managed by their licensed mental health practitioners:
- ADHD
- Agoraphobia
- Anxiety Disorders
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
They utilize Zoom for videoconferencing consultations and a secure texting system for matters that can be discussed without seeing each other virtually. Direct texting can be used to communicate before the session and for the entire duration of the treatment. The information you send through text messages is received by an encrypted portal that complies with HIPAA standards.
All prescriptions and refill orders are electronically sent to the patient’s pharmacy of choice. But they do not prescribe stimulants such as Concerta, Adderall, and Ritalin to patients who are already taking benzodiazepines such as Ativan, Xanax, and Valium.
Although they do not accept insurance, they will issue an official receipt which you can use to claim reimbursement from your plan provider. They offer refunds to first-time clients without a reason why they don’t want to proceed with telepsychiatry.
Locations/Cities Served:
- Bloomingdale
- Coeur d’Alene
- Kalispell
Leafwell
- Prescription
- HIPAA Compliant
- Board Certified Physician, Medical Marijuana Doctors
- Insurance
This telemedicine site’s main service evaluates whether a patient aged 18 years old and above or through the patient’s caregiver who is more than 21 years old can qualify for a Medical Marijuana Card in Illinois. In the case of minors, state law provides that at least two certifications from different physicians must be obtained in their name with consent from their parents or guardian before a medical marijuana card can be issued.
If you are experiencing these medical conditions, you may qualify for an MMC in Illinois:
- Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
- Fibrous Dysplasia
- Seizures
- Tourette Syndrome
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Glaucoma
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Tarlov Cysts
- Spinal Cord Disease
- Lupus
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type II
- Muscular Dystrophy
They will examine you and issue a doctor’s certificate if they assess that your condition is medically appropriate for this kind of treatment. You must have all your medical records ready such as your doctor’s notes, medical history, present medications, laboratory results, and other test results.
You can then present your Medical Marijuana Card when purchasing cannabis at licensed dispensaries or delivery services. Residents may grow up to five plants of cannabis in their own homes as long as they are utilized for medical purposes. Although there are states that accept out-of-state issued MMC, Illinois is not one of them. One must be a holder of an Illinois-issued MMC to be able to purchase within the state.
Locations/Cities Served:
- Chicago
- Justice
- Homewood
- Palos heights
- Trenton
- Peoria
KIDS Urgent Care Wheaton
- Prescription
- HIPAA Compliant
- Board Certified Pediatric Doctors and Nurses
- Insurance
They accommodate children as young as newborns and as old as 22 years of age. If your child is suffering from any of these acute illnesses or minor injuries, pediatricians at KIDS Urgent Care Wheaton can provide you with the care and treatment you need via telemedicine:
- Abdominal Pain
- Asthma
- Conjunctivitis
- Diarrhea
- Ear Infections
- Mild Allergic Reactions
- Nausea
- Sinus Issues
- Skin Rashes
- Sore Throat
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Vomiting
They prescribe medications electronically, including antibiotics, if the medical condition of your child would require it. If, based on the doctor’s assessment during the video visit that your child would require an in-office consultation, you will no longer have to pay for the virtual visit fee, so you don’t have to be hesitant availing their telemedicine visits. They have an actual clinic located at 290 West Loop Road, Wheaton, Illinois, just if you might need to see them in person or if some tests need to be run.
Besides telemedicine services, they also have a parent’s section on their website where they can browse through news, videos, articles, and advice from experts in various topics concerning children. Some of these tackle stages of development, everyday items at home that can cause injuries and how to avoid them, the emotional well-being of children, and many other tips that are very helpful to parents.
Location/City Served: Wheaton
LivHealth Online
- Prescription
- HIPAA Compliant
- Board-Certified Physicians, Psychologist, Psychiatrists, Lactation Consultants, Dieticians, Therapists
- Insurance
At LivHealth Online, you get to choose the doctor with whom you will consult. They will give you expert medical advice, diagnose, lay down treatment options, and prescribe you medications if necessary. All their doctors are trained to provide health care services through video conferencing.
They can treat common medical conditions such as:
- Allergies
- Bronchitis
- Cold
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Flu
- Headache
- Nasal Congestion
- Pink Eye
- Sinus Infection
- Skin Rash
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Watery Eyes
As for their psychiatry and psychology department, they specialize in dealing with the following:
- Anxiety
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Grief
- Medication Management
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Panic Attacks
- Parenting Difficulties
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Relationship Issues
- Stress
You must first go through an initial evaluation where your illness history will be taken, symptoms will be noted, and medications being taken. They see to it that there follow-ups, so you will be well guided throughout your treatment.
They have doctors who speak Spanish, so if this is your primary language, you can better communicate your medical concerns to your doctor. The LiveHealth Online app, which is also available in Spanish, can be downloaded for free at the App Store and Google Play. You can also order prescriptions at your chosen pharmacy through the app.
Locations/Cities Served: based in Cookeville, serving all of IL and other states
DuPage Medical Group
- Prescription
- HIPAA Compliant
- Board Certified Physician, Therapists, Primary Care Doctors, Specialty Providers
- Insurance
DuPage Medical Group caters to adults and children five years old and above in their video and e-visits services. Accommodating new and existing patients, the health care professionals at DuPage can help you with first-time consultations, follow-ups, prescription refills, and other medical services. They can address any medical concerns that fall under any one of these categories:
- Audiology
- Cardiology
- Diabetes Care and Education
- Dermatology
- Family Medicine
- Gastroenterology
- Geriatrics
- Immunology
- Internal Medicine
- Obesity Medicine
- Pain Medicine
- Pediatrics
- Ophthalmology
- Urology
They also conduct and participate in clinical research studies, which means that they are the first ones to know about any development or discovery in the medical field like asthma devices, Type 2 Diabetes, low testosterone, overactive bladder, heart failure, and many others that could help provide other treatment options.
You can download the MyDMG Health app from the App Store or Google Play to easily access your care team as well as other activities related to your treatment such as medications, consultation appointments, test results, health summary, questionnaires, to-dos, letters, and billing. You can share your medical record with your primary care physician using this app.
Location/City Served: Downers Grove
Physicians Immediate Care
- Prescription
- HIPAA Compliant
- Board Certified Physicians
- Insurance
Urgent care services can be available through online, face-to-face interactions with licensed health professionals at Physicians Immediate Care. If you are under 18 who want to avail of their services, be sure to have your legal guardian present during the virtual urgent care service.
Here are some of the non-life-threatening illnesses they treat at Physicians Immediate Care:
- Cough
- Fever
- Nasal Congestions
- Pink Eye
- Seasonal Allergies
- Sinus Infection
- Skin Conditions
- Sore Throat
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Wound Care
After the virtual visit, they will either give you a treatment plan or a referral to your local physician to visit in-office if they assess that your medical case would need further examination. They have several locations in Illinois, including Rockford and Chicagoland, where you can continue where you left off on your virtual visits.
They have a partnership with the VA’s network. All Illinoisan veterans can avail themselves of their urgent care services without processing the bill on their own. It will be sent directly to the Veterans Affairs Office through their third-party administrator.
Their Frequently Asked Questions section can provide you with all the answers you need for both in-person and televisions, as well as other inquiries about medical conditions they treat.
Locations/Cities Served: Berwyn, Chicago
Illinois Urological Institute
- Prescription
- HIPAA Compliant
- Board Certified Urologists
- Insurance
New patients are welcomed at Illinois Urological Institute for videoconferencing. If you live far from urologists with whom you can consult your medical case, scheduling a virtual appointment with their experts would save you a lot of time, effort, and money. They have specialists and can address the following urological concerns:
- Changes in hormone levels
- Vaginal pain
- Vaginal itching
- Urinary incontinence
- Overactive bladder
- Bedwetting in children
- Kidney stones
- Cloudy urine
- Prostate cancer
- Erectile dysfunction
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Every case requires different medical attention, so some patients’ medical conditions may not be seen virtually. They will assist you if ever you need to be seen in person by a specialist.
Their telehealth platform includes patient registration, video conferencing, chat and photo sharing, and prescription management. You can submit or encode your medical information, such as the symptoms you are experiencing, the medications you have at the moment, your allergies, and other data on your medical history.
Physician-patient interaction is not limited to video conferencing. Patients can also talk to their physicians through messaging to upload photos of medical concerns and symptoms. They can send electronic prescriptions to your chosen pharmacy, and they also manage all the medications you are taking to see if dosages need to be reduced or if some drugs must be removed from your regime altogether.
Locations/Cities Served: Wheaton, Geneva
Telemedicine Resources in Illinois
Today, numerous telehealth resources are at your disposal, but only a few can be categorized as credible or reliable. Telehealth laws vary by state, and mix-ups can sometimes happen! Access data officially released by the national and local government or the appropriate agencies and organizations in the state.
Check out these resources when searching for specific information about telehealth in Illinois:
- Illinois General Assembly: Bills, resolutions, and public acts governing telehealth, telemedicine, and other matters concerning public health, whether they are still being discussed in the Senate or House, are all compiled in this government-ran website.
- Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center: Illinois is one of the four states serviced by the UMTRC. Here, you can access free educational presentations. They also provide personalized technical assistance depending on your needs for your telehealth service. Blogs, news, events, forms, links, and webinars about telehealth are some of the resources you can find on their website.
- Center for Connected Health Policy – Illinois: All current state laws and policies are organized and summarized by the Public Health Institute through this national website for telehealth policies. Here you can find available Medicaid programs and reimbursement in the state of Illinois. You will also know about private payer laws, professional requirements, state administrators, pending legislations, and other useful information for the use of telehealth within the state.
- Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics: They provide a list of free clinics that can be found in several locations in Chicago and rural and suburban areas in Illinois. If you visit their website, you will see a section dedicated to Telehealth Resource Information where the most commonly used words in telehealth are defined, medical conditions usually treated through this platform, and the benefits of telemedicine.
- Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network: If you are looking for telehealth resources that specifically cover behavioral health, ATTC has compiled all state laws, orders, and local government issuances about the matter. They have provided links to the concerned government agencies‘ official websites for easier redirecting.
