Jay Rockefeller: “I am extremely pleased to be here today to introduce the Telemedicine Improvement and Modernization Act with Senator…”

“I am extremely pleased to be here today to introduce the Telemedicine Improvement and Modernization Act with Senator Jeffords and many other of my Senate colleagues. This bill incorporates two issues that I care about passionately--health care and technology. Telemedicine has the potential to bridge the gap that currently exists between patients and providers. More than 25% of our Nation's senior citizens live in areas where speciality care may not be available. In states like my own where there are very few primary care or specialty care resources and travel is difficult, telemedicine is critical to ensuring that people in remote areas are getting health care they need. By expanding access to health care through telemedicine, we also improve the quality of care available to people living in underserved areas. Personally, I believe that we are just beginning to tap the enormous potential of technology to advance quality health care, especially in rural areas. Yet, Medicare's telemedicine program is inefficient in its current form. These inefficiencies threaten the future of telemedicine services.”