Medicare has reimbursed for telehealth for some years, but only for remote areas of the country. The theory was telehealth was only good for people who are many miles from the nearest healthcare provider. As I discussed in Health Attitude: Unraveling and Solving the Complexities of Healthcare, telehealth is a good tool for anyone who is chronically ill and needs regular checkups. It doesn’t matter if there is a doctor down the street, the benefits of telehealth are significant. The Senate has finally wakened up to this reality.

The Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic Care Act of 2017 will allow Medicare to cover a broad array of services for treating chronically ill patients, including telehealth delivered at home. In a somewhat unprecedented move, a bill was introduced by the Senate Finance Committee to add more funding behind Medicare telemedicine. Closer following of chronically ill patients can reduce costly and inconvenient hospital readmissions. Telemedicine can also reduce the stress and strain often endured by family members to get loved ones to and from healthcare providers.

Read the full story about Senate bill would expand telemedicine coverage for Medicare patients. Read more about telehealth and chronic illness in Health Attitude: Unraveling and Solving the Complexities of Healthcare.