Telemedicine Could Be Covered Under Medicare

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

A new telehealth bill that would allow Medicare to cover telehealth and remote patient monitoring is set to be introduced to congress soon.

The Medicare Telehealth Parity Act of 2014, a bipartisan bill that would allow Medicare to cover telemedicine services is set to be introduced to the house soon by Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Glenn Thompson (R-PA). The bill proposes an amendment to Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, which puts limits on government-reimbursed telehealth services to rural areas and certain cases. Instead, over four years, they plan to gradually expand telehealth services covered under Medicare.

According to iHealth Beat, after six months the bill would require Medicare to cover telemedicine in urban areas with a population of at least 50,000 people. It would also expand the acceptable care sites to include retail clinics.

After two years, the bill would allow reimbursement for outpatient services, such as speech therapy and physical therapy, delivered via telehealth. In addition, it would expand coverage to urban areas with a population between 50,000 and 100,000; Include home telehealth to the list of acceptable care sites; and require the United States comptroller to conduct a study examining the efficacy and potential savings to Medicare from telehealth.

Finally, after four years, the bill would make telemedicine reimbursable in all areas and expand reimbursable services to include remote monitoring of chronic diseases like diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and congestive heart failure.

Mike Thomson also supported a bill introduced in November 2013 which planned to expand telehealth coverage for veterans and their families. “Because of provider shortages at local practices, many service members 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 explained.