U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and U.S. Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) on June 11 introduced a bicameral, bipartisan bill to expand telehealth access for America’s rural communities and bolster the use of remote patient monitoring technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This pandemic has demonstrated the vital importance of allowing rural healthcare facilities to fully embrace telemedicine as a way to reach patients in outlying and underserved areas,” Rep. Newhouse said, adding that the measure “will empower our healthcare providers to ensure that no patient is left behind, especially during a public health emergency.”
Rep. Newhouse cosponsored the Increasing Rural Health Access During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Act, H.R. 7190, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM), while Sen. McSally introduced the same-named S. 3951 with U.S. Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) in her chamber.
“Provider shortages, especially among specialists who care for Americans living with chronic conditions, are painfully evident in rural America and on tribal lands, where the prevalence of chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension is often higher than the rest of the country,” Sen. McSally said. “Bolstering access to telehealth will help remedy these shortages by providing Arizona’s vulnerable populations with increased access to critical health services in the comfort of their own homes.”
If enacted, the measure would authorize $50 million available for Virtual Health Pilot Program Grants administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to facilitate utilization of remote patient monitoring technology to maintain or expand access to healthcare services for individuals during the COVID-19 public health emergency, according to the bill summary.
The grants would be made available to providers and facilities to enhance access to community-based healthcare services in rural areas, including rural health clinics, community health centers, community behavioral health centers, long-term care facilities, and rural hospitals.
Additionally, grantees would be permitted to use federal funds for salaries, equipment and operating or other costs, including the cost of developing and delivering remote patient monitoring services or developing and acquiring computer hardware and software, audio and video equipment, computer network equipment, interactive equipment, data terminal equipment, and other equipment that furthers the objectives of the telehealth network grant programs, according to the summary.
Several central Washington healthcare providers issued statements of support for H.R. 7190, including Angela Gonzalez, CEO of Community Health of Central Washington; Alan Fisher, chief executive officer of Mid-Valley Hospital; and Dr. Peter Rutherford, CEO of Confluence Health.