The Telemedicine journal evaluated the effectiveness of digital photography for dermatologic diagnosis in comparison to actual in person diagnosis. As telemedicine began to gain momentum in the 90s many states were forced to make changes to the laws governing medicine. Telemedicine became especially important for rural areas where there were fewer physicians. They further reported that reimbursement for telemedicine services under Medicare only came into effect with the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which mandates Medicare reimbursement for telemedicine consultations in rural areas. Associated Press reported in March that Upstate Medical University in Syracuse and Columbia University in New York City would be using a federal grant to deliver health care through the Internet over the next four years to 750 rural and inner-city diabetes patients.
Attitudes seem to be changing.
Ferri and Klein also reported that in May, the national health benefits company, First Health Group Corporation based in Illinois, announced they would be the first managed care company to make payments for Internet consultation between patients and physicians. Advancements in technology will see other major changes in medicine in the near future. As the physician puts pressure on the patient's abdomen to check for problems, such as tumors or an enlarged liver, the sensor records every move his hand makes. On the other end, another physician can insert his or her finger into a robotic feedback device, or haptic thimble, touch the computer screen and recreate the original exam. These developments are just the tip of the iceburg in what we can expect to see in techno medicine in the very near future.