To view TDOC through the lens of a company participating in an open and free market presents it challenges. Healthcare and more particularly health insurance is a an ologopoly. Perhaps not formally designated as such, but certainly operating as such. In this environment, site of care and reimbursable rates are manipulated and dictated by the few to direct and impact both health care provider and patient behavior. Health insurance companies pick winners and losers every day. If the health insurance companies wish to see profits increase by affecting site of care and reimbursable rates associated with that care, they can make that happen. If TDOC and other telemedicine companies as well as medtech wearable devices can make that happen, then it will be the health insurance policies and procedures that will be the invisible hand moving the market. Do not underestimate the power of the health insurance companies and their ability to move a market.
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