Clinton signs telemedicine legislation

Telemedicine advocates are cheering President Clinton's signature of legislation that increases Medicare reimbursement for telemedicine services. The legislation was part of a combined budget bill signed by the president last week.

The legislation improves Medicare coverage of telemedicine and represents a victory in expanding telemedicine services throughout the U.S., according to the American Telemedicine Association of Washington, DC.

The legislation:

• Expands the areas eligible for telemedicine reimbursement to include all non-metropolitan counties and existing urban Medicare demonstration sites.
• Expands the eligible telemedicine services that can be billed to Medicare.
• Eliminates a fee-splitting requirement between health professionals at local and referring sites.
• Allows store-and-forward services to be billed for services provided in Alaska and Hawaii.
• Maintains existing Medicare reimbursement for teleradiology, remote cardiac monitoring, and related services.
• Clarifies that telehomecare is eligible for reimbursement under the new prospective payment system.