About Karen Blum
Karen Blum is AHCJ’s core topic leader on health IT. An independent journalist in the Baltimore area, she has written health IT stories for publications such as Pharmacy Practice News, Clinical Oncology News, Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News, General Surgery News and Infectious Disease Special Edition.

Photo by Liza Summer via pexels.
One of the conveniences of online patient portals is the ability to send messages or questions to care providers in between appointments and get answers. But now, the Cleveland Clinic and a handful of other medical centers have started charging for this service, and not all patients and patient advocacy groups are happy.
It’s an interesting trend for journalists to follow, given the prevalence of these portals. There are a number of story angles to pursue as well, including the view of providers, patients, and insurers, how this might impact the usage of the portals and how much revenue health systems could gain from this move.
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Karen Blum is AHCJ’s core topic leader on health IT. An independent journalist in the Baltimore area, she has written health IT stories for publications such as Pharmacy Practice News, Clinical Oncology News, Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News, General Surgery News and Infectious Disease Special Edition.