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Increase Telemedicine

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Technological advances are coming to define modern medicine. But they shouldn’t be all about giant machines, expensive tests, and dramatic cures. They also need to work more subtly to help people get well and stay healthy – and they should be a lot more sophisticated than WebMD.com.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 28 urged the Texas Congressional delegation to support federal legislation requiring the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to expand telemedicine and telehealth services. Specifically, the government should initiate and expand Medicare reimbursement for telemedicine home health services.

This request aligned with current Texas law regarding telemedicine, which directs the Health and Human Services Commission to periodically review policies regarding reimbursement under the Medicaid program for telemedicine services. It would have allowed greater flexibility of services in Texas, while saving the state money and helping more Texans. These are the house calls of the future.

SCR 28 was passed by the Texas Senate.  However, it died in the state House.