John Thune: “as I traveled across my State of South Dakota this August, I heard from many constituents about the high cost of health…”

“as I traveled across my State of South Dakota this August, I heard from many constituents about the high cost of health care. Concerns about the cost of health care are not limited, however, to the people of South Dakota. These concerns span across state lines and across the minds of people of all ages. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the issues of access and cost of health care. My State of South Dakota is rural. In South Dakota, 46 out of our 66 counties are classified as medically underserved areas--areas that have insufficient health resources, manpower or facilities to meet the medical needs of the population. This poses a significant challenge in providing health care to the 750,000 residents of South Dakota. Providing high quality affordable health care will take the cooperation of both the public and the private sector. The use of technology in the delivery of health care has been a proven method in providing quality care while reducing cost. Telehealth uses telecommunications and information technologies to provide health care services at a distance. It provides individuals in remote underserved areas access to specialists and other health care providers through the use of technology. This means that when my constituent in Gregory, SD, needs his skin examined by a dermatologist, he does not need to travel the 185 miles to Sioux Falls.…”