[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E853-E854]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE MEDICARE TELEHEALTH VALIDATION ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DOUG OSE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2003

  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, health care costs increase annually. 40 million 
Americans currently go uninsured. 38 million Americans depend on 
Medicare for their health care. With these challenges before us, 
Congress must act to provide the most comprehensive and cost effective 
health care services available. For this reason, I am reintroducing the 
Medicare Telehealth Validation Act of 2003.
  I firmly believe that telemedicine is the best preventative medicine. 
The techniques and consultative efficiency provided by telehealth 
services reduce costs by diagnosing diseases and disorders before they 
progress. By expanding Medicare reimbursement for telehealth 
technology, we will be cutting illnesses off at the pass, and reducing 
overall costs.
  Furthermore, telemedicine can meet the needs of underserved 
populations. According to researchers from the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, there were 80 physicians per 100,000 persons in 
most rural areas in 1998, compared with 308.5 physicians per 100,000 in 
urban areas and 223.5 physicians per 100,000 persons in the suburbs. 
The youth death rate from all causes was 58.5 per 100,000 persons in 
most rural areas from 1996 to 1998, compared with 44.5 per

[[Page E854]]

100,000 persons in urban areas and 35.4 per 100,000 in suburban areas. 
With such a disparity in quality of care between those with access to 
medical care and those without, Congress must act to expand the use of 
telehealth technology before preventable illnesses become life-
threatening diseases.
  The Medicare Telehealth Validation Act provides $40 million for 
development of telehealth networks for rural communities. These 
networks enable underserved populations access to the same diagnostic 
and consultative care that urban residents have come to expect. These 
networks link health care professionals in their offices to patients 
and colleagues from across the street or from across the globe.
  In addition to providing critical medical consultation to underserved 
and rural constituents, this legislation provides telehealth technology 
to inpatient services, increases the categories of eligible 
participants to increase access to telehealth technologies, and it 
seeks to reduce the barriers for access to telehealth technologies by 
increasing multi-state licensing. Moreover, this legislation will 
expand Store and Forward technology and revolutionize radiology. X-rays 
and slides can be shared with specialists quickly and confidentially. 
Diagnosis and treatment will be better, faster, and less expensive.
  I am a firm believer that preventative medicine is the best medicine. 
I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this important 
legislation.

                          ____________________