<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>On Feb 19, 2014, at 4:35 PM, Catherine Britain <<a href="mailto:csbritain@gmail.com">csbritain@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><p class="MsoNormal">Greetings,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A legislative concept was introduced in the State Senate
Committee for Health Care and Human Services by Zoom Care that would amend the
statute created in 2009 by SB 24, better known as the telemedicine
reimbursement bill. Senator Laurie
Monnes Anderson Chair of the Committee requested that Zoom Care work with TAO
to assure that the concept they were presenting did not run contrary to the
current reimbursement environment in Oregon, and would enhance telemedicine
reimbursement for telemedicine providers in the future.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">TAO worked very closely with Zoom Care to craft language
that would enhance and expand the current statute. SB 1560 was introduced in a
Committee hearing on February 10, 2014.
The bill was presented along with the -1 and -4 amendments. The amendments served to strengthen the
language in the original bill regarding the use of the GT modifier and the
determination of when the use of telemedicine was appropriate. Basically the
bill with the -1 and -4 amendments said that the reimbursement of telemedicine
services should be expanded to include the services delivered to patients
outside institutional walls including primary/urgent care services to patients
in their homes, schools, and workplaces.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At that time opposition was raised by the Oregon Association
of Hospitals and Health Systems (OAHHS) and the larger Oregon insurers. OAHHS believed that their hospital members
would lose Emergency Room revenue if the bill were to pass. The insurers
believed that the bill mandated parity, and felt that a workgroup was needed to
clarify the language. On February 11<sup>th</sup>
while the Committee was in work session on the bill Senator Monnes Anderson
decided not to have a vote on the bill in the Committee effectively killing
it. Instead she directed TAO to form a
work group made up of members that she and TAO believed needed to be involved
to work through the concerns with the bill and bring a bill to the Committee
for the 2015 session. The Committee
staff would provide support to the work group.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This does not mean that the current statute is not
valid. Providers can still request
payment for services delivered telemedically.
Insurers will continue to pay for telemedicine services as mandated
under the statute. NOTHING HAS
CHANGED. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal">Copies of SB 1560 and the -1 and -4 amendments are available on the TAO website or on OLIS at the <a href="http://Oregon.gov">Oregon.gov</a> website.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you are interested in participating in the workgroup
please submit your name and contact information to me by March 10<sup>th</sup>. The size of the work group will be limited,
but we will attempt to share information and solicit input from everyone who is
interested.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at <a href="mailto:csbritain@gmail.com">csbritain@gmail.com</a> or 541-910-7366.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best regards,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cathy Britain</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr"><div>Catherine S. Britain, Program Director</div>
<div>Telehealth Alliance of Oregon<br><a href="mailto:csbritain@gmail.com" target="_blank">csbritain@gmail.com</a><br>541-910-7366</div>
<div><a href="http://www.ortelehealth.org" target="_blank">www.ortelehealth.org</a></div>
<div> </div></div>
</div>
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