E-Messages at Grand View Health

In recent years, electronic and virtual options have become increasingly popular with patients. At Grand View, you may choose to have a traditional in-office appointment or use the patient portal for a virtual video visit or to send a message.

Depending on the amount of time and clinical expertise required, a message may be designated as an e-message and you may be billed for this type of care.

What is a Grand View Health E-message?

At Grand View Health, e-messages are defined as a written message, initiated in the MyGVH.org patient portal, by a patient with their provider.

While many exchanges through the portal are free of charge, MyGVH.org portal communications that require the clinical time and expertise of a provider may be billed to the patient or patient’s insurance.

The amount charged to the patient or insurance is based on the length of time necessary for a provider to review your medical record and provide clinical advice. If the fee is not covered through your insurance plan, you are responsible for the cost of this service.

There may be a co-pay based on the coverage guidelines of your insurance plan.

What you will not be billed for:

• Messages about non-medical issues (billing, appointment scheduling or chart corrections)
• Messages that require less than five minutes of a provider’s time
• Communication of test results
• Medication refills
• Making a change to medication(s) due to cost
• Question about an issue you saw your provider for within the last seven days
• Issues or lab results related to a visit that occurred within the last seven days

What you may be billed for:

The following communications may result in a bill for an e-message. You are responsible for payment of your e-message if it is not covered by your insurance plan.

E-messages include:

• Patient-initiated communication and provider response for a new or worsening problem
• Evaluation of a patient-attached photo by a provider to make a treatment plan
• Any medical evaluation and decision by the provider to change medications you are currently using for treatment
• Any medical evaluation and decision by the provider to order testing to diagnose or treat a medical condition
• Changes to a long-term condition