Batavia narrowly approves much-discussed telehealth service for city residents

After considerable discussion, Batavia will pursue a program that provides city residents access to text-based consultations with a doctor for a monthly fee added to their utility bills.

The program — called Tap, or “Text a Physician” — has been discussed at several city meetings, generating both support for the healthcare access it provides and concern about the way residents are charged for it.

Ultimately, the city council recently voted 7-7 to approve an agreement for the program, with Mayor Jeff Schielke casting the tie-breaking vote in favor of it.

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

Tap is used by hundreds of public entities, according to the company’s website. The program was recently rolled out in nearby Algonquin.

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.

For Batavia residents, the program is slated to cost $9 a month, added to their utility bill. There is an option to opt out of the program.

Of the $9 monthly charge, $1 is slated to go back to the city, which the city plans to use to support community health and assistance initiatives — potentially covering residents who qualify for utility bill assistance.

During their Nov. 2 meeting, Batavia City Council members considered a five-year agreement for the program, with a potential cost-of-living increase beginning in the third year.

Among the conditions of the agreement are that Tap will cover the cost of implementation and future marketing materials, such as door hangers, per a city memo. City staff plan to work on communication steps like utility bill mailers and social media promotion.

There is slated to be a 60-day implementation period, per the city, and Tap has committed to providing the service for free for those 60 days, the resolution approved Nov. 2 said. Residents are set to have 12 additional months to opt out of the service and receive a refund, the city has indicated.

Council members debated the program before the Nov. 2 vote.

Ald. Tony Malay said the program is a “benefit” for Batavia and that there’s “zero risk” because individuals can opt out and be refunded.

Ald. Bob White similarly said there’s “too much positive to not move forward with this.”

Other council members expressed more hesitation.

Ald. Tim Lanci said he had come to support the program given the many ways to opt out. But he said he was “astonished” at the level of backlash he’s heard from constituents about how the program is implemented.

“It’s not landing with people,” Lanci said. “I do think there needs to be time. I think there needs to be competition.”

mmorrow@chicagotribune.com