Telemedicine in Montana

Telemedicine services are similar to the services our patients receive in our clinics, except, they are provided in patients’ homes via an app or web browser. Patients and Telemedicine providers are able to see and speak with each other.

Telemedicine providers may prescribe and/or refill many common medications and provide care for the many common ailments.

Appointments are required for telemedicine services, but can easily be requested here.

We welcome new and existing patients to use our Telemedicine services.

Please schedule online to initiate your next visit!

Telemedicine visits work with every browser, as well as Android and iOS devices. Patients receiving services will receive specific instructions describing how to connect with their provider, after speaking with our call center staff.

Patients need a reliable, high-speed, internet connection to receive service.  We strongly recommend that patients keep their device plugged in while connected with BestMed and use a Wi-Fi connection they are certain is secure. Using your cellular data plan (if any) may result in charges to you and/or the account holder.

At BestMed, we understand healthcare costs can be substantial, unexpected, and often complicated. BestMed accepts most health insurance plans and can bill insurance companies directly. Certain insurance plans may not cover telemedicine services, however, insurance coverage is evolving rapidly in response to Federal and State emergency proclamations addressing COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Many insurers are adding coverage for telemedicine services. If you wish to use your health insurance benefits, you will be responsible for the cost of any co-pay, co-insurance, patient responsibility, and non-covered services as determined by your insurer.

Currently, we are only able to offer Telemedicine services to Oregon and Montana-based patients. This includes virtual COVID-19 screening, virtual primary care visits, and virtual urgent care visits.

Using telemedicine for COVID-19 screening reduces your exposure and time in clinic for a COVID-19 test. To request a COVID-19 screening online, first schedule an appointment, select “visit related to COVID screening/testing” as reason for visit, and complete the process laid out above. Upon completing your visit with the provider, you will be directed to the nearest BestMed clinic. Important – you MUST have a telemedicine visit completed before arriving at the clinic for COVID-19 testing. COVID-19 screening is currently only available to Montana-based patients. 

Here’s what the link will look like on your phone via text message. If you didn’t receive it, end the current session. Contact BestMed Urgent Care to have the link resent.

Check your Wi-Fi status.

• If not, try connecting to Wi-Fi if available.
• Do you have data available? If so, try turning off Wi-Fi.
• If good connection but are still having issues, click on advanced settings in the telemed session and adjust broadband levels to High Bandwidth.

• Check if the media volume is on.
• What do buttons on the side say, do they say mute or unmute?
  They should say Mute which means sound and camera is on.

You need to allow access when prompted for the camera and mic. When you click on a link, it will open in their internet browser and a pop- up will ask if they will allow camera and mic. If they hit cancel instead of allowing, then a telemed session will start but the provider can’t hear or see them. To fix this, you’ll need to end the session and click on the link again.

• Do you have a tablet, laptop, or computer that they can try on? The link can be emailed to work on another device.
• If the camera is connected but can’t hear, the provider can potentially call you and talk through phone and use a telemed session for the camera. Remember to mute telemed  session as there may be feedback.