Press Releases

Arlington, VA (July 7, 2015) - The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, today expressed its support for the bipartisan Medicare Telehealth Parity Act of 2015 (H.R. 2948) in a letter to U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Gregg Harper (R-Miss.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Diane Black (R-Tenn.). The bill, introduced today, expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare.

“This important bill makes thoughtful reforms to Medicare that will promote a modern and more effective healthcare system,” TIA CEO Scott Belcher said in the letter. “By expanding coverage of telehealth to include services such as store–and–forward and remote patient monitoring for specific chronic conditions, Americans will greatly benefit from technologies that connect patients and health care providers and facilitate ongoing care and treatment wherever and whenever it is needed.”

The signed letter is available HERE and the text of the letter follows:

July 7, 2015

The Honorable Mike Thompson
U.S. House of Representatives
231 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Gregg Harper
U.S. House of Representatives
307 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Peter Welch
U.S. House of Representatives
2303 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Diane Black
U.S. House of Representatives
1131 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representatives Thompson, Harper, Welch and Black:

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing hundreds of global manufacturers, vendors, and suppliers of information and communications technology (ICT), wishes to thank you for introducing the bipartisan Medicare Telehealth Parity Act of 2015. TIA’s members greatly value your leadership on improving access to quality healthcare through greater use of telemedicine. This important bill makes thoughtful reforms to Medicare that will promote a modern and more effective healthcare system.

By expanding coverage of telehealth to include services such as store–and–forward and remote patient monitoring for specific chronic conditions, Americans will greatly benefit from technologies that connect patients and health care providers and facilitate ongoing care and treatment wherever and whenever it is needed. This bill makes significant strides in ensuring that telemedicine and all the associated benefits become more widely available to millions of Americans.

Thank you again for your efforts. TIA appreciates your strong bipartisan commitment and leadership on this legislation, and we look forward to working with you to enact these important reforms.

Very best regards,

Scott Belcher
Chief Executive Officer
Telecommunications Industry Association

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