Welch Announces Bipartisan Telehealth Legislation to Improve Rural Care

Press Release

Rep. Peter Welch, joined by representatives from the Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC), announced his bipartisan legislative initiative to expand the use of telehealth technology in the health care system. The announcement was followed by a demonstration of CVMC's telehealth system which focused on remote patient care for stroke patients.

Rep. Welch said, "This legislation will advance the use of technology in improving health outcomes and in providing better access to health care in underserved rural communities. I applaud CVMC's leadership in the use of this exciting technology to better serve their patients."

Judy Tartaglia, CVMC President and CEO, spoke about the benefits of telehealth to Vermont hospitals. "We do a great job providing health care to our patients but we do not have the wide range of specialists in central Vermont that are available at Fletcher Allen Health Care," said Tartaglia. "Telemedicine makes it possible for us to have a specialist at FAHC speak to a physician at CVMC in real time while also viewing the patient."

Rep. Welch's legislation, The Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2013, is cosponsored by Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS), Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA). It adjusts Medicare home health payments to account for remote patient monitoring and expands coverage to all critical access and sole community hospitals. The bill also covers home-based video services for hospice care, home dialysis, and homebound beneficiaries. It would also give states the opportunity to expand Medicaid coverage to include telehealth services for women with high-risk pregnancies.

Source