<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><font size="4">If this passes, I'd like to help try to bring some of that money to Oregon. Note that they specifically mention post-stroke treatment, not just evaluation. Also note that home settings are specified as delivery sites.</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><font size="4">~Sue Palsbo<br></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">H.R. 2068 would, in part, extend Medicare telehealth
coverage to all Medicare providers to the full extent of their Medicare scope
of practice. The major categories not now covered are the therapies –
physical, occupational and speech. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">ATA fully supports H.R. 2068 (see <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.telehealth4us.org">www.telehealth4us.org</a>). The
Congressional Budget Office put a price tag of $15 billion over 10 years on
this bill. That was too expensive for its Congressional supporters in
include it in the pending national health reform bills. <br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">In response so as
to make progress, ATA initiated an effort with our allies, including the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association, to develop and advocate for telestroke
therapy pilots (the text is below.) We are making progress in getting
that considered for a Senate Floor amendment to health reform.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stroke Telerehabilitation Pilot Projects</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">
(a) In General.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall implement pilot projects
to analyze the clinical outcomes and costs for Medicare beneficiaries with
cerebrovascular disease (ICD-10 codes 160 through 169) to obtain access to
occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech language pathology services
via telemedicine systems in acute, post-acute and home settings of care.
The pilot projects shall include the provision of both evaluation and treatment
services.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">
(b) Duration and Scope.—The Secretary shall conduct the pilot projects for a
3-year period. Total expenditures for services provided under the pilot
projects shall not exceed $10,000,000. The pilot projects shall be
conducted in variety of geographic areas with priority given to
underserved areas.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">(c) Waiver Authority.<span style="font-family: Symbol;">¾</span>The Secretary may waive such provisions of
title XVIII of the Social Security Act as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate for the conduct of the pilot projects under this
section. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">(d) Report.—Not later than 3 years
after the date that the pilot projects under this section is implemented,
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot projects,
including results of the pilot projects and recommendations for such
legislation as the Secretary deems appropriate. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">
(e) Expansion.—If the Secretary determines that any aspect of the pilot
projects enhance health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries and reduces
expenditures under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, the Secretary may
initiate comparable projects for additional conditions and in additional areas.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Gary
Capistrant</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Senior Director, Public Policy</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">American Telemedicine
Association</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">202-223-1294 (direct)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">202-223-3333 (main)</span></p><br><br>Susan E. Palsbo, PhD President and CEO OBSLAP RESEARCH, LLC 3130 Summit Sky Blvd Eugene OR 97405 541-505-7591 (phone) 541-505-7591*51 (fax) www.obslap.com</td></tr></table>