[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 17, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H5392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THE GROWING FIELD OF TELEMEDICINE

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an 
important issue that will be on the floor during debate over the 
Department of Defense appropriations for fiscal year 2015: the growing 
field of telemedicine.
  Mr. Speaker, dating back to 2011, I introduced the Servicemember 
Telemedicine and E-Health Portability, or STEP, Act. This legislation 
allows health care professionals credentialed by the Department of 
Defense to work across State lines without multiple licenses, 
regardless of where the servicemember is located.
  It was an important beginning for the Department of Defense to 
utilize telemedicine, which is efficient, convenient, and a cost-
effective way to address the challenges of delivering mental and 
behavioral health services.
  Included in the committee report for fiscal year 2015 is language 
that improves upon the existing infrastructure and highlights the many 
advantages of utilizing telemedicine, along with an encouragement for 
all military branches to expand and prioritize these technologies.
  I thank the chairman and the committee for their recognition of the 
importance of telemedicine in delivering care to our servicemen and -
women, and look to continuing our work to ensure our troops are getting 
the care that they have earned and deserve.

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