In 2000, Medicare commissioned a study of telemedicine services for type 2 diabetics, and the results that were reported this summer were not encouraging for either cost effectiveness of better health.  The study involved some 2,000 Medicare patients in both New York City, and Upstate New York who had limited access to doctors and healthcare facilities. The test involved home video conferencing with nurses, tracking blood sugar readings, and online educational programs. In the end, compared to control groups, this telemonitoring had costs that were from 71% to 116% higher with only “modest” effects on the patients’ health.  The report noted, however, that other telemedicine applications had demonstrated significant cost effectiveness.  MORE