Delaware County Review

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Reps. Troy Balderson (R-OH), Katie Porter (D-CA), Neal Dunn, M.D., (R-FL), and Greg Murphy, M.D., (R-NC) have introduced the Expanding Remote Monitoring Access Act, a bipartisan legislation aimed at easing restrictions on health care providers and expanding access to remote monitoring services for seniors. The bill has the potential to reduce long-term health care costs, improve health outcomes, and increase options for seniors.

Remote monitoring devices and technology allow health care providers to remotely observe and treat patients from the comfort of their own homes. This enables providers to detect adverse health events earlier and keep patients out of the hospital. The Expanding Remote Monitoring Access Act aims to improve access to health care services for seniors, especially those in rural communities with limited access to health care facilities.

"We should be doing everything we can to improve access to health care services for seniors. Remote monitoring is a valuable tool for patients across Ohio, especially for those who live in rural communities with few health care facilities in their area. I am proud to introduce the Expanding Remote Monitoring Access Act because it will lower costs while improving health outcomes," said U.S. Rep Troy Balderson.

The legislation has garnered support from various organizations and stakeholders who recognize the benefits of remote monitoring. The American Telemedicine Association and the Health Innovation Alliance have both expressed their endorsement for the bill. They believe that expanding access to remote monitoring technologies covered by Medicare will provide greater choices for clinically appropriate care for Medicare beneficiaries.

Various health care professionals have also voiced their support for the legislation. Dr. Dunn highlighted that remote monitoring is an important tool for disease management and can help reduce hospital readmissions. Dr. Murphy emphasized the benefits of remote monitoring in improving health outcomes for patients and reducing hospital readmissions. Dr. Arick Forrest, Vice Dean of Clinical Affairs at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, commended Rep. Balderson for his leadership in fostering access to remote patient monitoring, stating that it represents the future of health care provision.

The bill aims to extend the current two-day billing threshold for remote monitoring services under Medicare for an additional two years. It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress within one year, analyzing a proper long-term billing threshold and estimating savings from earlier interventions and fewer hospitalizations.

Remote monitoring services have proven to be effective alternatives to in-person clinical observation for various medical conditions. Studies have shown that patients enrolled in remote monitoring programs experience reduced hospital admissions and bed days. For example, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who received pulmonary rehabilitation through remote monitoring saw significant cost savings per patient.

The Expanding Remote Monitoring Access Act seeks to improve access to remote monitoring services for seniors, enhance health outcomes, and reduce health care costs. The legislation is a bipartisan effort to harness the potential of remote monitoring technology in providing efficient and effective health care for seniors.

For more information about the Expanding Remote Monitoring Access Act, click here.

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Links:

- Expanding Remote Monitoring Access Act: [LINK](https://balderson.house.gov/uploadedfiles/expanding_remote_monitoring_access_act.pdf)

- Department of Veterans Affairs study on remote monitoring: [LINK](https://connectedcare.va.gov/sites/default/files/OT_va-telehealth-factsheet-2019-01.pdf)

- JAMA analysis on cost savings from remote monitoring: [LINK](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35731514/)