Doctors Move to Webcams

Virtual doctor visit services—which connect patients from their homes with physicians whom they meet via online video or phone—are moving into the mainstream, as insurers and employers are increasingly willing to pay for them.

In the latest sign, WellPoint Inc., the nation's second-biggest health insurer, plans to offer a new service in all of its employer and individual plans that will allow people to consult with physicians on-demand, using laptop webcams or video-enabled tablets and smartphones. The insurer says the video consults will appeal to clients looking for "convenience and accessibility of care," said Ken Goulet, executive vice president. But such services—which backers say can save money when they avoid costly emergency room trips—are generating tension with some state regulators and doctor groups. They argue that the remote visits can make sense when a patient is communicating with his or her regular doctor, but care may suffer when patients are connecting with a physician who may be in another city or state.