Expanding Access to Telehealth Coverage
During the 2018 legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly approved House Bill 1617, which instructs the Department of Social Services to reimburse health care providers for telehealth services rendered under the same standard of care as in-person services. Telehealth technology, which allows a doctor to “treat” a patient via audio and video communication without being physically present in the same room, has been around for quite some time. I believe HB 1617 is a long overdue update to Missouri law. By expanding access to telehealth coverage, we can help some of our state’s most vulnerable citizens receive the care they need in a way that’s safe, reliable and convenient.
As advances in technology make it even easier for doctors to treat patients from many miles away, we have to make sure the law stays up to date with the changing landscape. Otherwise, the promise of this technology, and its application in the health sector, may go under-utilized. In my opinion, HB 1617, which opens the door to more widespread use of telehealth services, is a step in the right direction.
Telehealth is especially important for rural parts of our state, where hospitals and health care facilities are often far away from the patients they need to treat. Many rural health facilities in our state have fallen on hard times, with some even having to shut down entirely. Having fewer hospitals in these areas means patients have to drive farther to see a doctor, making telehealth services more important now than ever before. By clearing regulations in this area of the law, we can give people greater control over how they are able to receive their health care.
As always, please feel free to call, email or write with your ideas or concerns. My Capitol office number is (573) 751-1415, my email is dan.hegeman@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 332, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.