It’s hard to believe that only a few months ago (back in the pre-pandemic days), virtually none of us had ever heard of, much less experienced, a telemedicine visit with our doctor or a recommended specialist. For many of us, there was no reason (or option) to speak with your provider from home, either by phone or video chat. Certainly, insurance and reimbursement incentives meant you likely had to go in for an office visit, even if travel to the physician was inconvenient or difficult. But oh have times changed! Now, headlines such as “Why virtual care will outlast the pandemic” are commonplace, and legislation is being introduced to make permanent many of the temporary waivers to Medicare that have allowed video and phone visits to flourish in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Politico reports that since the pandemic began, telemedicine visits among Medicare recipients have exploded from just a few thousand/week to over 1.3 million visits/week. Fewer patients have missed clinic visits and it seems that many, if not most, patients have come to adjust to remote care from their providers. While there are legitimate concerns about determining when a virtual visit can and should replace an in-person visit, and there are insufficient data to yet understand if telemedicine will change patient outcomes, (as well as concerns about billing fraud and privacy invasions) it seems likely that this newly instituted form of providing medical care is here to stay in one form or another.

Of course, not every medical problem is amenable to a virtual visit, and not every physician has appropriate “webside” manners. The challenge is figuring out when you have to go, and when you can stay home. While Medicare currently will pay the same for a telemedicine visit as an inpatient visit (because of relaxed regulations) there may be upcoming changes that will limit when and how your provider will get reimbursed for a video chat rather than an in-office consult. As well, for private insurers, the laws differ in each state and it would be prudent for you to understand what your insurer will pay before you determine what you should do. And when does it make sense to have a telemedicine appointment, even if there are no longer pandemic travel restrictions? WBUR recently gave a list of considerations for going in versus calling in, including the seriousness of your problem, the state of your health generally and whether the issue is something amenable to conversation and observation or whether you require a test that can only be done in person (such as a mammogram or colonoscopy). Finally, Consumer Reports recently highlighted the valuable option of mental health care via virtual means, which often gives patients more flexibility, convenience, and a broader range of provider options (including those less expensive) than more typical in-office therapy sessions.

And to help you prepare for that virtual visit, Dr, Christine Nguyen of Stanford University Medical School recently offered some tips in a Next Avenue post. Among her recommendations? Have your lists of complaints, medications, and questions ready in advance, and test your devices prior to the visit to make sure you and your provider have compatible technology.