Reps. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) have introduced a new bill, the TELE-MED Act of 2015, to allow licensed physicians and practitioners to electronically treat Medicare patients across state lines.
Each physician or practitioner would already have to be a Medicare approved, but would be able to provide their specialty services to patients within other states. The bill is only targeted towards Medicare, and not other insurance providers.
“The antiquated physician licensure system hinders physicians from treating their patients remotely, particularly across state lines,” said Joel White, executive director of the Health IT Now Coalition. “Many Medicare patients, often due to medical, transportation, or financial restrictions, are unable to travel long distances to receive care. This bill brings the doctor to the patient wherever they may be, to help ensure all Medicare beneficiaries have access to care.”
At the moment, Montana is the only state that allows for unrestricted license requirements for out-of-state physicians via telemedicine. On the other hand, we have Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas which extend a telemedicine license to out-of-state physicians within specified criteria, only.
[Via: mHealthWatch]