Bill Supports Coverage of Remote Monitoring
Bi-partisan legislation introduced will support coverage of remote monitoring by Medicare for patients with chronic health conditions. The bill, H.R. 5765, is called the Medicare Remote Monitoring Access Act. It was introduced by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), along with seven other representatives. News of the legislation was described on FDA News.
The bill calls for modification of Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to support reimbursement for monitoring of patients with cardiac arrhythmia and heart failure. As well, the bill calls for the development of an evaluation program to assess incorporating remote coverage for patients who have sleep apnea, diabetes, or epilepsy.
If approved and similar legislation is passed by the Senate, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will work with stakeholders to create standards for remote monitoring before 2010 for the two conditions outlined. The bill has been passed on to two House Committees for review: Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce.
Remote monitoring allows clinicians to support management of patients with these chronic conditions. This would particularly benefit those patients who live in rural areas or do not have access to specialists. Physicians can provide patients with guidance in real-time based on data collected directly from a patient’s home. Use of this technology has been limited secondary to lack of reimbursement.
May 2, 2008 Related topics: Legal & legislative