Political Quotes

“The Health Care Financing Administration has been reviewing telemedicine demonstration projects across the country. They have been studying them about 2 years now. They are analyzing the cost effectiveness of providing health services via telecommunications and how to reimburse health care providers. Telemedicine is a technology that is spreading--thankfully--because rural areas and inner-city areas are in desperate need of health care. Getting health care services can be a challenge, especially if you are 180 miles away from a specialist. But even if that specialist is willing and able to visit his patients via telemedicine, HCFA will not reimburse him for those services. And as you can imagine, many health care providers aren't too willing to give their time without being compensated. The study is already underway. But there is no anticipated deadline to finish the study and put the issue of reimbursement behind us. In fact, at a recent telemedicine conference, a HCFA representative stated that there would be no decision until Congress mandated one. My amendment basically instructs HCFA to decide on reimbursement of telemedicine services by March 1, 1997.”