The Pennsylvania House Professional Licensure Committee recently held a public hearing on telemedicine, which lawmakers believe could increase healthcare quality and access while reducing costs.
Telemedicine refers to the remote delivery of healthcare services and medical information using telecommunications technology. These capabilities can increase healthcare access in rural areas and reduce wait times in other areas.
“The potential for telemedicine is limitless,” Rep. Marguerite Quinn (R-Bucks) said. “Telemedicine does not seek to replace in-person medical care, but it is another option to increase access to high-quality medical care while seeking to reduce costs. That’s why it is so important to move ahead with the technology available to us and allow patients and physicians to benefit from this type of innovative delivery of health care.”
Quinn authored a House bill that aims to expand telemedicine opportunities. The legislation would define the term telemedicine, establish guidelines for who can provide telemedicine services, address professional liability coverage, create requirements for evaluation and treatment and set medical record standards. The bill would also provide clarity that insurance will reimburse these services.
Testifiers at the hearing included physicians, nurses, medical information technologists, insurance industry representatives, and a rural school superintendent.
“Today’s hearing was an important step forward in expanding telemedicine options across Pennsylvania,” Quinn said. “Because telemedicine options can literally reach across all types of health care, patients and areas, I am hopeful that my legislation can proceed through the process and get to the governor’s desk this year. Pennsylvania patients deserve these life-improving opportunities.”