In recent months, as the conversation about reforming the health care system has shifted from websites and coverage expansion to achieving greater delivery system efficiencies, cost containment, and quality improvement, the role of health care technology — specifically, telehealth, health information technology (health IT or HIT), and mHealth — is becoming an even more prevalent area of bipartisan cooperation among health care policymakers.
In the 113th Congress there was a proliferation of policy and industry attention on telehealth, health IT, and mHealth as lawmakers and stakeholders alike have recognized the cost, quality, and accessibility benefits of telehealth and momentum for implementation of telehealth are growing. For example, at least 57 bills that relate to telehealth were introduced. Representative Fred Upton, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, embarked on a "21st Century Cures Initiative," and convened a series of hearings and roundtables with the ultimate goal of developing legislation to promote innovation in the health care space.
In the 114th Congress, there is reason to believe the momentum for policy to address telehealth will only continue, if not increase in pace. With the current Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR), or "Doc Fix," set to expire in March 2015, lawmakers are expected to once again turn their attention to SGR reform in the lame duck. This focus on overhauling the physician payment formula, and more broadly payment reform, will likely also drive continued attention to telehealth reimbursement challenges, discussed in more detail below.
Telehealth, Health IT, And mHealth Policy: Considerations For StakeholdersThe content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.