On December 2, 2015, Senators Gary Peters from Michigan and Cory Gardner from Colorado introduced the “Telehealth Innovation and Improvement Act” (S 2343) to expand access to healthcare in rural areas by paving the way for Medicare to cover additional telehealth services. According to Senator Peters, “The legislation would also incentivize the industry to develop cutting edge technology that could revolutionize healthcare delivery.”
The bill would require HHS to allow eligible hospitals to test telehealth services through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). In addition, the bill directs CMMI to review and independently evaluate telehealth models for cost, effectiveness and quality of care without increasing the cost of delivery. If the telehealth model meets this criteria, then the model will be covered through the Medicare program.
Ed Ness, President and CEO, Munson Healthcare explained, “Munson Healthcare in northern Michigan strongly supports expanding access to telehealth technologies so it will be easier for patients to connect with qualified medical providers.”
To view the legislation introduced, go to www.congress.gov.