Fifth Time A Charm For Telehealth Bill?

A telemedicine bill aimed at expanding remote patient monitoring technology in rural and underserved communities was re-introduced in the Senate this week, making it the fifth time the bill has been proposed since 2005.  

Cosponsors Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) together with Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) are hoping the current environment of health information technology may help make the fifth time around the charm for the Fostering Independence Through Technology Act.   

If passed, the bill would establish pilot programs under Medicare to provide incentives for home health agencies utilizing telemedicine technologies. Officials say the bill would allow for improved monitoring of Medicare patients and further reduce program expenditures over time.