Starting next year, some doctors in Stamford will begin seeing patients through the video-conferencing technology Skype.

The doctors at Pain Management Associates of Connecticut may be the first doctors in the state to offer online health care.

Dr. Vincent Carlesi says that the technology won't replace the importance of in-person visits for most types of care, but would make things easier for elderly or disabled patients, and speed up follow-up care and visits for prescription refills.

Insurance companies say they are still studying online health care and some say they do offer reimbursement for certain types of online care.