Policy Archives
- Baucus, Grassley Release Policy Options For Financing Comprehensive Health Care Reform (18 May 2009) - Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) released policy options for financing reform of America's health care system. Three areas of potential funding sources explored in the financing options are: savings achieved from within the health care system from reductions in current levels of spending; reevaluating current health tax subsidies; and changing non-health tax provisions. The options are the last of three papers that Members will discuss before a Finance Committee mark-up of comprehensive health reform legislation.
- FCC Seeks Comment on Additional Spectrum for the Medical Device Radiocommunication Service (13 May 2009) The Commission seeks comment on the feasibility of allowing up to 24 megahertz of spectrum in the 413–457 MHz band to be used on a secondary basis under the umbrella of the existing Medical Device Radiocommunication Service. This action reflects the Commission’s ongoing effort to foster the development and deployment of advanced medical devices using wireless technologies that benefit the health and well-being of the American public. Public comments are due August 11.
- Secretary Sebelius Announces HHS Office of Health Reform Personnel (11 May 2009) - Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius today announced the establishment of the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of Health Reform. This office will spearhead the department's efforts to pass urgently needed health reform this year and coordinate closely with the White House Office of Health Reform. Both offices were created by an April 8 Executive Order to help deliver on one of President Obama's top priorities.
- Appointments Announced to Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (8 May 2009)
- A Big Win for Telemedicine: H.R. 6331 Passes in the U.S. Senate (July 11, 2008) - In an extraordinary vote, the U.S. Senate reversed itself and voted to overcome a filibuster of H.R. 6331, a comprehensive Medicare package that includes important telemedicine provisions. When the measure was called up after a 2 week intensive advocacy effort on the part of medical groups and senior citizens, the tally was 69 to 30, which is a sufficient margin to override the veto that President Bush has threatened. H.R. 3661 contains provisions adding skilled nursing facilities, hospital-based dialysis centers and community mental health centers as originating sites for the Medicare telehealth program. Read More >>
- H.R.6331 - Update (1 July 2008) - Final passage of legislation to expand Medicare reimbursement for telemedicine was delayed when H.R. 6331 received only 59 of the 60 votes necessary in the Senate to overcome a filibuster. Negotiations will resume when Congress returns from the Independence Day recess. Both the Democratic and Republican versions of the Medicare legislation in the Senate, as well as the bill that overwhelmingly passed the House, contains provisions expanding telehealth originating sites. All three versions extend telehealth to skilled nursing facilities and hospital-based dialysis centers. The House bill and Democratic version in the Senate also includes community mental health centers as an originating site. ATA and other allied groups will continue to work hard ensure that the telemedicine provisions are in the final legislation.
- Telemedicine Patent Issue (December 2007) - A number of ATA members, based in the United States, have received letters from a lawyer representing Houston-based Emtel, Inc., a company that has apparently taken out a patent on certain processes that seem to include some telemedicine practices. In response to numerous requests, ATA has consulted with our attorney and is working with the Center for Telehealth and E-Health Law (CTeL) to offer information to members. Upon request, a letter has been sent to ATA and CTeL from Drinker Biddle & Reath offering advice about how to respond if you have received a letter about this patent. (You can review this letter by clicking here.) In addition, ATA and CTeL jointly sponsored a discussion about this issue with the attorney at Drinker Biddle & Reath who provided the letter. This very informative discussion took place at a CTeL Washington Live Brown Bag Series event on December 13, 2007.
- ATA Files Comments Regarding Medicare Coverage (August 30, 2007) - ATA filed reply comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding its proposed changes in Medicare coverage of telemedicine services. The proposed changes were in response to a petition filed by ATA and others in December 2006.
- FCC Order Establishes Pilot Program under Rural Health Care Funding Mechanism (September 29, 2006) - The FCC has issued an order establishing a pilot program within the rural health care program. Allotted $400 million annually, the existing rural healthcare program is woefully underutilized. The pilot program is intended to help public and non-profit health care providers build state and region-wide broadband networks and connect those networks to a dedicated nationwide backbone. Applications to the FCC will be accepted for 60 days after Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements in the Order (FCC 06-144). A Rural Health Care Pilot Program information page has been posted by the FCC http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/rural/rhcp.html; contact Thomas Buckley at 202.418.0725, thomas.buckley@fcc.gov, or Claudia Fox at 202.418.1527, claudia.fox@fcc.gov, for additional information.
- CMS Regulations, Rules & Comments (December 1, 2006) - In 2006, progress by CMS to expand Medicare reimbursement slowed; Agency responses to ATA proposals under the Proposed Rule for Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 2007 and CMS’ responses to ATA comments may be reviewed here. A ruling by CMS in 2005 accepting ATA’s proposal to expand Medicare coverage to include remote medical nutrition therapy services and CMS’s support for home telehealth within its Quality Improvement Initiative were two examples of recent change and progress within the Administration.
- S.1909 in 109th Reflects ATA Priorities for Medicare Expansion (October 24, 2005) - The Senate version of the Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2005, S.1909, introduced in the 109th Congress, offers an excellent example of needed Medicare adjustments for telemedicine/telehealth reimbursement. ATA worked with congressional staff to ensure the bill’s language effectively addressed Medicare reimbursement for remote medical and health services for all remaining institutions eligible to participate in Medicare, but not currently eligible to be reimbursed for telemedicine/telehealth services, and an expansion of Medicare-covered originating telehealth sites, prioritizing eligibility for nursing homes, dialysis centers, and community-based mental health centers. Also included in the bill’s provisions is an authorization for a grant program through HRSA’s OAT for the development of telehealth networks which would define as grant-eligible nonprofit and for-profit alliances, provided the grant recipient is a nonprofit entity. ATA looks forward to working with members of the 110th Congress to address these issues and draft a Telehealth Enhancement Act in 2007.
- ATA Comments on CMS Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule for CY2007 (December 2005)
- Telemedicine Licensure Report (June 2003) - Prepared by the Center for Telemedicine Law under a contract from the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth
- JCAHO Clarifies Telemedicine Standard (February 2003) - An article in a newsletter published by the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations provides an explanation of their standards on credentialing and privileging of telemedicine services.