AHA calls for more global approach to coverage in House telehealth proposal

The AHA today called a House discussion draft of legislation to improve Medicare’s coverage and payment for telehealth services “a step in the right direction,” and applauded the members of a House Energy & Commerce Committee working group on telehealth for taking on the issue. “The AHA strongly agrees with your goal of expanding coverage of telehealth services in Medicare, and appreciates the specification of a mechanism for doing so,” AHA Executive Vice President Rick Pollack said in a letter to the working group. “However, given the growing body of evidence that telehealth increases quality, improves patient satisfaction and reduces costs, we believe a more global approach to expanding Medicare coverage of telehealth is warranted.” Last week, the AHA released a report on the promise of telehealth.