Legislator encourages rule changes to enable telehealth

Telehealth is one answer to controlling healthcare costs and improving access to healthcare, but it does not receive the attention it deserves, Mich. State Rep. Klint Kesto and registered nurse Sheryl Stone wrote in an editorial to the Kalamazoo Gazette.

“With the widespread availability of high-speed broadband networks, our country is now uniquely positioned to make much needed progress in this area by adopting telehealth technologies to provide patients with access to medical professionals even at great distances,” according to the letter.

While telehealth initiatives are off the ground at many leading healthcare organizations, “antiquated laws” that require providers to obtain multiple state licenses and adhere to multiple state rules to offer these services beyond state lines are affecting the greater use of telehealth for patients, Kesto wrote. “These rigid, outdated rules simply do not reflect the benefits that could be derived through new innovations like telehealth. As a result, it places barriers between patients and the high-quality care that could be delivered across state lines.”

As such, to save money and provide better service, the letter encouraged lawmakers to streamline medical licensure guidelines to open the doors to greater use of telehealth. He suggested that Congress focus on Medicare by revising policies so providers can treat their patients across state lines using telehealth so long as they are licensed to practice in one state.