Thune bill seeks expansion of telehealth for rural areas

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Sen. John Thune said Wednesday he has introduced legislation to expand the use of “telehealth” for Medicare patients, especially in rural areas.

“Telehealth” is defined as the delivery of health-related services and information via telecommunications technologies. Thune, R-S.D., described it as “remote monitoring” that could allow more people to stay home rather than travel for care or moving into nursing homes.

“I believe telehealth technology can bridge the distance between patients and providers and help bring down the cost of health care,” Thune said on a conference call with reporters.

The legislation, titled the “Fostering Independence Through Technology (FITT) Act,” would create a pilot program to provide incentives for home-health agencies across the country to use home monitoring and communications technologies. Home-health agencies participating in the program would receive annual incentive payments based on a percentage of the Medicare savings achieved as a result of telehealth services. Thune said the legislation is budget neutral.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, DMinn., is a lead co-sponsor.

“Telehealth technology helps ensure that Minnesotans in rural communities have access to highquality, affordable health care,” Klobuchar said in a news release. “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.”

Thune’s said the bill has the support of “several prominent telehealth and home health advocates” in South Dakota and throughout the nation.

A press release from Thune’s office quoted David J. Horazdovsky, president and chief executive officer for The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, the nation’s largest not-for-profit provider of senior care and services.

“Innovative technologies such as telehealth enhance long-term care services, give seniors more options and can reduce healthcare costs for consumers and government entities,” Horazdovsky said.

“Through the use of these technologies, seniors will be able to live as long as possible in their own homes — the places where they are most comfortable.”

Thune’s release also included positive comments from the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) and its affiliated Home Care Technology Association of America (HCTAA).

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