Virginia enacts telemedicine reimbursement legislation
Virginia recently became the fourteenth state to enact health care legislation requiring insurance coverage for telemedicine. The National Broadband Plan explicitly sought to promote telemedicine as a means of lowering health care costs and promoting high-speed Internet build-out in rural areas.
Telemedicine has been shown to be very effective in bringing low-cost medical services to underserved rural and urban areas.
In mid-April Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell signed SB 675, a health insurance bill that requires insurance companies to cover a patient's use of telemedicine and related technologies.
In addition to the fourteen states that require health insurance companies to reimburse consumers for telemedicine services, 23 states allow for Medicaid reimbursement. California, Hawaii, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Texas have telemedicine legislation pending.
Virginia Gov. McDonnell signs telemedicine reimbursement legislation (BroadbandBreakfast)
National Broadband Plan - Chapter 10 Health Care (Broadband.gov)
High-speed Internet brings improved dental care to underserved community (Speedmatters)
SB 675 Health insurance; mandated coverage for telemedicine services (LIS)
CWA members oppose AT&T’s attempts to stop serving rural and low-income communities in California
CWA urges FCC to deny industry attempts to loosen pole attachment standards
CWA District 6 reaches agreement with AT&T Mobility