Batavia residents can test out text-based telehealth service city is considering

As the city of Batavia continues to consider rolling out a program that gives residents access to text-based consultations with a doctor for a small monthly fee added to their utility bills, residents can try the service for free in the meantime.

The program — called “Text a Physician,” or TAP — was discussed last month by the Batavia City Council during a committee of the whole meeting. City council members expressed support for the program’s aims but raised questions about how it would work, including how residents would be charged.

The service lets individuals contact a licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner virtually for routine, nonemergency health issues, rather than going in person to a doctor’s office or hospital. Depending on the condition, a provider could also prescribe certain medications.

According to the city, the text-based service is not intended as a replacement for health insurance coverage.

For those using the service, doctors are available every day of the year from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

It requires no insurance or copay, just a monthly fee. If the program is approved for Batavia, it’s slated to cost residents $9 a month, added to their utility bill. Up to 10 people per household can use the service, and residents can opt out of the program.

Hundreds of public entities use TAP, the company’s website says. The program was recently rolled out in nearby Algonquin. In July, it was offered to Batavia city employees, in addition to their existing health insurance plan.

Last month’s discussion generated some pushback about the opt-out model. But council members also pointed to ways it could potentially expand access to care to city residents.

The city council has not yet voted on whether to implement the program in Batavia.

City Administrator Laura Newman said at a city council meeting earlier this month that, while Batavia continues to weigh whether to move forward with the proposed service, residents can try out TAP for free in the meantime.

“What they want is feedback about whether people find it useful or not,” Newman said at the meeting.

The number Batavia residents can use to try the service is (839) 887-0365, according to Newman’s presentation.

In addition to encouraging residents to test it out, Newman asked residents to provide feedback to the city about what they think about the program.

She went on to describe the program’s goal of providing people, especially those who are uninsured or underinsured, a low-cost option to receive medical care. In addition, Newman pointed out that it can save residents time and money they would otherwise spend on medical visits.

At that meeting, there was some discussion among the council members about the program and potential outreach the city may do to get the word out to residents. The matter is slated to be discussed again at a committee of the whole meeting on Sept. 29.

mmorrow@chicagotribune.com