<div>Please consider contacting members of our delegation about the importance of telemedicine and HIT and its inclusion in the stimulus package.</div>
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<div>Thanks,</div>
<div>Cathy<br><br></div>
<div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Jonathan Linkous</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:nalonzo@americantelemed.org">nalonzo@americantelemed.org</a>></span><br>
Date: Tue, Jan 27, 2009 at 6:50 AM<br>Subject: Telemedicine in the U.S. Federal Stimulus Bill<br>To: <a href="mailto:ATAmembers@americantelemed.org">ATAmembers@americantelemed.org</a><br><br><br>
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<p>As we reported last week, the proposed federal economic stimulus bill, now heading for quick passage in Congress, may lead to a very significant increase in funds for telemedicine this year. <u>This may end up being the largest federal investment, ever, for the adoption of telemedicine.</u></p>
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<p><u>The potential amount of funding is staggering.</u> The overall proposed stimulus bill allocates nearly $800 billion in total federal funds. Proposed funds are targeted to many different federal programs that are directly related to telemedicine. $2 billion is proposed for health information technology through the Office of National Coordinator for HIT and specifically mentions telemedicine as one priority for spending. $2.8 billion is targeted to the Distance Learning and Telemedicine and Broadband Grant program in the Department of Agriculture. An additional $2.8 billion is slated to go to the Wireless and Broadband Deployment Grant Programs in the National Telecommunications Infrastructure Administration in the Department of Commerce. Other funds for health technology, that may include telemedicine, are contained within expanded funding for a variety of federal programs including the National Institutes of Standards and Technology, Indian Health Services and the Social Security Administration.</p>
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<p>ATA is asking Congress and the Obama Administration to assure that a portion of funds already listed in the proposed spending measures are actually spent for telemedicine. The recommendations are in five areas:</p>
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<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in"><span>1.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Expanded Telemedicine Networks – use a portion of the proposed HIT spending to expand the capabilities of US health institutions to provide telemedicine for all citizens.</p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in"><span>2.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Export of Health Care Services – accelerate the use of telemedicine in exporting U.S. health services to other nations.</p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in"><span>3.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Coordination of Telemedicine and Telecommunications Spending – take an aggressive approach to eliminate redundancies and gaps in services for existing health technology and telecommunications programs</p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in"><span>4.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Development of Standards – assure uniform quality in the delivery of telemedicine through federal support for telemedicine practice guidelines.</p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in"><span>5.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span>Homeland Security – fully implement the provisions already approved by Congress to establish a nationwide telemedicine network for use in disaster response.</p>
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<p><u>ATA's specific recommendations will be sent to Congressional offices today.</u> Congressional action is on a fast track - passage of this measure will occur in the House of Representatives in a few days. Updated information including final decisions on the proposed funding bill will be communicated to the membership as it becomes available. <span style="COLOR: #1f497d"></span></p>
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<p><b>ATA MEMBERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL FUNDING AND CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES TO ENCOURAGE THEIR SUPPORT FOR ATA's RECOMMENDATIONS</b></p>
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<p>Jonathan D. Linkous</p>
<p>CEO</p>
<p>American Telemedicine Association</p>
<p>202-223-3333</p>
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<p>P.S. As we all know, the economic downturn is an international phenomena. As other countries move to implement similar stimulus actions, ATA will be tracking other potential increases in funding for telemedicine and telehealth services. We would appreciate hearing from any members with knowledge of such moves by other countries.</p>
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<p> </p></div></div></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Catherine S. Britain<br>CSB Consulting<br><a href="mailto:csbritain@gmail.com">csbritain@gmail.com</a><br>541-910-7366<br>