AMA Adopts Telemedicine Policy – During the American Medical Association’s (AMA’s) Annual Meeting on June 11, 2014, AMA voted to approve a list of guiding principles for ensuring the appropriate coverage of and payment for telemedicine services. These guiding principles stem from a report developed by the AMA’s Council on Medical Service, which addressed coverage and payment for telemedicine. AMA’s news release is available here.
Alliance for Connected Care Urges Burwell to Expand Access to Telehealth Services – On June 9, 2014, the Alliance for Connected Care (ACC) sent a letter to newly-appointed HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell urging Medicare to expand its reimbursement policies for telehealth services provided by Medicare ACOs. The ACC letter is available here. In addition, a coalition of telehealth proponents also wrote Burwell on June 9 urging for the expansion of Medicare reimbursement for telehealth services. This letter is available here.