Bipartisan bill would increase access to telemedicine

Eureka Times Standard

North Coast congressmen Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, and others from both sides of the political aisle introduced bipartisan legislation that would significantly increase the availability of telemedicine for all Americans.

Currently, about 80 percent of Americans do not have access to telemedicine facilities because of restrictions that limit funding for these types of facilities to rural areas, according to a press release from Thompson's office.

The Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act, House Resolution 2068, would expand Medicare reimbursement to urban and suburban areas and include more facilities, the press release states. It will also allow doctors to monitor patients remotely.

Co-authors include reps. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., Lee Terry, R-Neb., and Sam Johnson, R-Texas.

“As health care becomes more expensive, we need to use smart innovations such as telemedicine technology to help lower costs and expand access for all Americans,” said Thompson in the release. “Allowing doctors to remotely monitor a patient who has congestive heart failure not only helps the patient stay healthy, it also reduces costly visits to the emergency room. The Obama Administration has indicated that telemedicine will be an important part of their health care reform agenda, and I look forward to working with them to expand access to this important technology.”

The legislation also provides $30 million in grant funding to help health facilities pay for the telehealth equipment and to expand telehealth support services.

Last July, Thompson and Stupak's provisions to expand the types of facilities authorized to provide telehealth care were passed into law as part of the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act. This bill will further expand the type of facilities that are eligible.