Klobuchar, Thune Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Rural Health Care

Press Release

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Thune (R-SD) today introduced the Fostering Independence Through Technology (FITT) Act. The bipartisan legislation would expand the use of telehealth technology under Medicare in rural and other underserved communities across the nation.

"Telehealth technology helps ensure that Minnesotans in rural communities have access to high-quality affordable health care," said Klobuchar. "This is one of many ways that we can increase the efficiency of health care and reduce the increasing costs of health care for our families."

"Access to high-quality health care in rural areas can be costly and limited," said Thune. "Telehealth technology stands to bridge the distance gap between patients and specialized health care providers through new and innovative measures and can bring down the cost of health care in rural communities. Additionally, non-invasive telehealth technology like remote monitoring gives seniors the ability to stay in their homes longer, giving their loved ones peace of mind."

The FITT Act would create a pilot program to provide incentives for home health agencies across the country to use home monitoring and communications technologies, giving seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries greater access to the care they need and the ability to stay in their homes.

Under Klobuchar and Thune's legislation, home health agencies participating in the pilot program will receive annual incentive payments based on a percentage of the Medicare savings achieved as a result of telehealth services.

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