Telehealth Bill Introduced To Congress

New bill would expand remote care access for military personnel, allow veterans and their families to participate as well

On November 15, U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson and Scott Peters introduced H.R. 3507, the 21st Century Care for Military & Veterans Act. According to Thompson’s website, “This bipartisan legislation would expand coverage of telehealth services to active-duty servicemembers, their dependents, retirees, and veterans.

“Because of provider shortages at local practices, many servicemembers and veterans lack access to a primary care physician, and in rural and underserved communities patients often must travel extended distances to see a healthcare provider. The bill would establish and expand reimbursement policies covering the use of telehealth services, including essential mental health monitoring, under TRICARE and the VA,” he continues.

EHR Intelligence reports that a letter sent to congress from groups such as American Telemedicine Association and The Telecommunications Industry Association is also urging representatives to pass the bill. “Patients want – and need – to transmit information they perceive as important near real-time,” the letter argues. “The use of standards for interoperability between remote patient monitoring devices and EHRs would leverage the broader information and communications technology industry that has flourished globally through ubiquitous interoperable mobile devices, systems and networks. It would also enable systemic engagement between patients, health care providers, and other stakeholders reduce long-term health care costs.”

The legislation introduced would utilize video and web conferencing, remote patient monitoring and smart devices. Thompson’s website says the VA has already seen a 40 percent reduction in bed days and an 87 percent reduction in annual per-patient costs through telemedicine technology. Telemedicine is so productive for the VA, that EHR Intelligence reports their plans to add more than 25 million dollars in funding to their telehealth program.

“As we look for ways to provide the best-quality care for our servicemembers and veterans, telehealth technologies are increasingly important to the full range of options we should be offering,” Peters said. “We’ve already seen that these technologies create a more responsive and more efficient health care system that provide for better care and lower costs.”

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