Tech Groups Push for Telehealth Provisions in Health Reform Bill

Technology firms are urging the Senate Finance Committee to incorporate new payment methods that could increase adoption of telemedicine into health reform legislation. In the committee's policy options document released earlier this summer, some lawmakers offered a proposal to test Medicare payment methods that promote patient-centered care coordination for high-cost, chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries. Alice Borrelli, an Intel lobbyist, said the document did not mention technology or virtual care. However, technology firms -- such as Intel, Cisco Systems, IBM and the trade group Tech America -- are urging lawmakers to expand the language to include in-home and virtual consultations.