ATA offers suggestions for advancing telehealth

The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee offering thoughts on how 21^st century technology can benefit patients.

“The Committee on Energy and Commerce is uniquely positioned to shape the future of 21^st century healthcare with legislative jurisdiction over the major payers, Medicare and Medicaid and key agencies,” wrote ATA.

The association cites several “artificial federal government barriers to telehealth,” including restrictions on payment coverage due to out-of-date policies; and restricted patient access due to differing state licensure and medical practice rules.

The Medicare telehealth provisions in the Social Security Act “represent a benefit locked in time,” ATA wrote, “but the laws haven’t changed.” The association goes on to say that as the nation’s largest payer, the government can set a good example for other payers and as enablers of “robust 24/7 telehealth services.”

ATA recommended four critical areas that should be adopted:

1. Telemedicine-provided services should be covered and reimbursed comparable to their in-person counterparts--21 states and Washington D.C. have adopted such a requirement for private health insurance offerings.
2. Federal reimbursement coverage should provide coverage regardless of the site of service.
3. Every patient should have access to a specialist or other physician for their medical needs whether the provider is located in state of out-of-state.
4. Every patient should be able to continue care from their physician, including primary care providers, regardless of either of their locations.

Read the entire letter.