Telemedicine and beyond.

There is a resurgence of interest in telemedicine fueled by technology advancements and impending changes in reimbursement. Understanding various types of telemedicine helps separate hype from fact. This paper discusses the various forms of telemedicine; reviews telemedicine policy and regulatory status with emphasis in our [Missouri and Kansas] region; lists legislative, interstate licensing and reimbursement initiatives; and discusses future telemedicine trends with special attention to mobile devices.