Posted: | December 4, 2020 01:57 PM |
---|---|
From: | Representative Gary Day |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Establishing Telemedicine Law for Pennsylvania |
In the near future, I will be re-introducing legislation to define what telemedicine is, offer guidelines outlining who can provide telemedicine services, professional liability coverage, requirements for evaluation and treatment, and medical record standards. Additionally, the bill will provide clarity that these services will be reimbursed by insurance. As we have seen though-out the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine provides a needed service to those who require clinical care at times when traveling to a physician’s office is not safe or feasible. Telemedicine can benefit many of those with unmet needs in both urban and rural areas. This includes patients, physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, employer clinics, behavioral health organizations, and prisons. Telemedicine allows for two-way real time interactive communication between patient and the physician or practitioner at the distant site. Telemedicine is a significant and rapidly growing component of health care. Through the use of telemedicine, specialists and other health care providers are able to expand their reach, helping patients stay in their communities and avoid traveling long distances for specialized care. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as HB1573