LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon will start offering telehealth services to its clients from January 1, 2015.

The service, which will be offered as a covered benefit to all members, is launching in partnership with Teladoc, enabling members to receive health-related services and information for the purpose of diagnosis, prevention, health advice, disease management and treatment.

The new telehealth service will be offered as a covered benefit to all members.“Our virtual care offering will allow us to meet our members where they are and also make it simple for them to get the care they need. We are pleased to make virtual care available to all of our members,” said Rich Maturi, senior vice president of LifeWise’s Health Care Delivery System.

LifeWise members will be able to receive virtual care through their local healthcare provider if they are equipped with telehealth capabilities, or from the comfort of their home or office through Teladoc.

While Teladoc is not intended to replace a member’s primary care physician, it does offer 24-hour access to U.S. board-certified, state-licensed physicians who can diagnose and prescribe select treatment services.

“By making telehealth services available, our members can have peace of mind that they will have access to virtual care in ways that fit their lives – whether it’s from work or from home,” said Majd El-Azma, LifeWise president and chief executive officer. “This service provides a viable alternative when in-person care is a challenge due to geographic distance, limited access to transportation, and a need for care outside of regular doctor office hours.”