{"id":4694,"date":"2017-07-12T17:23:18","date_gmt":"2017-07-12T17:23:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tele.healthcare\/?p=4694"},"modified":"2017-07-12T17:23:18","modified_gmt":"2017-07-12T17:23:18","slug":"lawmakers-want-medicare-changed-to-expand-telehealth-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drmiltie.com\/at-home-testing\/lawmakers-want-medicare-changed-to-expand-telehealth-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawmakers Want Medicare Changed to Expand Telehealth Services"},"content":{"rendered":"

Legislators efforts continue at both the federal and state level to reduce the barriers for Telehealth and Telemedicine technology usage.<\/strong><\/p>\n

July 12, 2017 by Eric Wicklund<\/p>\n

A Congressional Telehealth Caucus is supporting legislation that would greatly expand the reach and scope of telehealth and telemedicine services covered by Medicare. Legislators are ramping up their efforts to expand Medicare coverage for telehealth and telemedicine.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The latest bill to take the spotlight is the Medicare Telehealth Parity Act of 2017 (HR 2550)<\/a>, re-introduced in May by a familiar group of pro-telehealth lawmakers and designed to gradually expand both the scope and reach of telemedicine services allowed by Medicare.<\/p>\n

The bill failed during its first introduction in 2015, but is now getting support from the Congressional Telehealth Caucus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers whose ranks have reportedly grown in recent weeks. \u00a0Advocates say the bill \u2013 one of several making the rounds on Capitol Hill \u2013 could make it through Congress because it addresses familiar pain points in telehealth and offers an incremental plan for expansion.<\/p>\n

An analysis by the law firm of Foley & Lardner<\/a> explains the bill\u2019s three phases:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The first phase would\u00a0expand qualifying originating sites to include all federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and all rural health clinics, and expand qualifying geographic locations to include counties in Metropolitan Statistical Areas of fewer than 50,000 residents. It would also expand telehealth coverage to include services offered by certified diabetes educators, respiratory therapists, audiologists, occupational therapists, speech language therapists and physical therapists. Finally, it would compel Medicare to cover asynchronous (store-and-forward) telehealth services across the country, not just in Alaska and Hawaii.<\/li>\n
  2. The second phase\u00a0would add the home to the list of qualifying originating sites, and expand qualifying geographic locations to include counties in Metropolitan Statistical Areas with populations of between 50,000 and 100,000.<\/li>\n
  3. The third phase would add counties in Metropolitan Statistical Areas with populations above 100,000 to the list of qualifying geographic locations. It would also authorize the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop and implement new payment methods for telehealth services.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The bill also calls for Medicare coverage of remote patient monitoring (RPM) services for covered chronic care conditions and home dialysis for patients with end-stage renal disease.<\/p>\n

    READ MORE:<\/strong> Telehealth Growth, Savings Tied to Parity Laws<\/a><\/p>\n

    \u201cThe introduction of the Medicare Telehealth Parity Act of 2017, coupled with other telehealth-related bills and the creation of the Congressional Telehealth Caucus, represents continued progress towards expanded telehealth coverage and hopefully portends increasing support for and understanding of telehealth benefits among federal lawmakers,\u201d Foley & Lardner attorneys Nathaniel M. Lacktman\u00a0and\u00a0Thomas B. Ferrante said\u00a0in their analysis. \u201cHealthcare providers and telemedicine companies should recognize the importance of this progress, as it is an opportunity to contribute their voices and help shape public policy on telehealth and virtual care services.\u201d<\/p>\n

    The bill was introduced by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) and has five Republican and eight Democratic co-sponsors, as of July 12. It\u2019s currently before the House Subcommittee on Health.<\/p>\n

    The Congressional Telehealth Caucus was launched in May by Thompson, alongside Reps. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.), Diane Black (R-Tenn.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).<\/p>\n

    \u201cTelehealth saves lives and reduces costs; it\u2019s a win-win for both patients and providers,\u201d Thompson said in a joint press release announcing the caucus and its support of both the Medicare Telehealth Parity Act and the CONNECT for Health Act<\/a>. \u201cThe caucus will give us a venue to collaborate with our interested colleagues to advance the delivery of care via telemedicine.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Several other telehealth-themed bills are making their way through Congress, including:<\/p>\n