Law and Policy in Telemedicine
bill passed into law
new bill
Federal Telemedicine and Telehealth Bills
104th Congress 2003-2004
- H.J.R. 2 Consolidated Appropriations Resolution
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Funding and appropriation
Status: passed into law
Would allocate funds for the Rural Utilities Service distance learning and telemedicine program as follows:
For the principal amount of direct distance learning and
telemedicine loans, $300,000,000; and for the principal amount of
broadband telecommunication loans, $80,000,000.
For the cost of direct loans and grants, as authorized by 7 U.S.C.
950aaa et seq., $56,941,000, to remain available until expended, to be
available for loans and grants for telemedicine and distance learning
services in rural areas: Provided, That $10,000,000 may be available for
grants to finance broadband transmission and local dial-up Internet
service in areas that meet the definition of ``rural area'' used for the
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program authorized by 7 U.S.C.
950aaa: Provided further, That the cost of direct loans shall be as
defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
- H.C.R. 292
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Administration and regulation
Status: not passed into law
Resolves that it is the sense of Congress that Congress should act immediately to adopt and implement the goals and recommendations highlighted in the final report of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, `Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America' through legislation or other appropriate action to help ensure affordable, accessible, and high quality mental health care for all Americans. One of the recommendations of the Commission is that Congress should encourage the use of health technology and telehealth to improve access and coordination of mental health care, particularly for Americans in remote areas or in underserved populations, and the development and implementation of integrated electronic health records.
- H.R. 1 Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Programs and demonstration projects
Status: passed into law
Would amend Section 4207 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33) to extend the telemedicine demonstration project from 4 years to 8 years, and to double the funding from $30,000,000 to $60,000,000.
Would also allow the Secretary to expand originating telehealth sites to include skilled nursing facilities.
- H.R. 1940 Medicare Telehealth Validation Act of 2003
Focus: telemedicine is a primary issue
Subject: Funding and appropriation
Status: not passed into law
Would expand access to telehealth services to all areas, increase by six the number of Medicare-covered originating sites, facilitate the provision of telehealth services across state lines, provide grants for the development of telehealth networks, and establish duties and responsibilities of The Joint Working Group on Telemedicine.
- H.R. 2473 Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Programs and demonstration projects
Status: not passed into law
Would amend Section 4207 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33) to extend the telemedicine demonstration project from 4 years to 8 years, and to double the funding from $30,000,000 to $60,000,000. This provision became law via H.R. 1.
- H.R. 2507 Conquering Pain Act of 2003
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Funding and appropriation
Status: not passed into law
Title II, Section 201 would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Public Health Service, to award grants for the establishment of 6 National Family Support Networks in Pain and Symptom Management to serve as national models for improving the access to and quality of pain and symptom management to chronic pain patients (including chronically ill patients for whom pain is a significant symptom) and those individuals in need of pain and symptom management at the end of life and to provide assistance to family members and caregivers. A Network that is established under this section shall establish telemedicine links to provide education and for the delivery of services in pain and symptom management.
- H.R. 2673 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Funding and appropriation
Status: passed into law
Would make appropriations for the Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program as follows:
For the principal amount of direct distance learning and telemedicine loans, $300,000,000; and for the principal amount of broadband telecommunication loans, $336,000,000.
For grants for telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas, $25,000,000, to remain available until expended.
- H.R. 3038 Health Care Safety Net Amendments Technical Corrections Act of 2003
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Funding and appropriation
Status: passed into law
Would amend the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary to make grants to State professional licensing boards to carry out programs under which such licensing boards of various States cooperate to develop and implement State policies that will reduce statutory and regulatory barriers to telemedicine.
- H.R. 3127 Pediatric Palliative Care Act of 2003
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Funding and appropriation
Status: not passed into law
Would amend the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants to eligible entities to implement or expand pediatric palliative care programs for children with life-threatening conditions; such grants may include grants to support communication linkages and care coordination, telemedicine and teleconferencing, and measures to improve patient safety.
- H.R. 3549 Rural Healthcare Improvement Act of 2003
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Programs and demonstration projects
Status: not passed into law
Would amend Section 4207 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33) to extend the telemedicine demonstration project from 4 years to 8 years, and to double the funding from $30,000,000 to $60,000,000. Would also allow the Secretary to expand originating telehealth sites to include skilled nursing facilities.
- H.R. 3658 Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Funding and appropriation
Status: not passed into law
Would amend the Public Health Service Act by providing for the Telehealth Stroke Treatment Grant Program, which would allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to States, and to certain consortia of public and private entities, to conduct a 5-year pilot project over the period of fiscal years 2005 through 2009 to improve stroke patient outcomes by coordinating health care delivery through telehealth networks.
- H.R. 3750 Pacific Insular Areas Rural Telemedicine Act
Focus: telemedicine is a primary issue
Subject: Administration and regulation
Status: not passed into law
Would amend Section 254(h)(1)(A) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(h)(1)(A)) by adding at the end the following new sentence: `For the purposes of this subparagraph for American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam, the Commission shall by regulation (i) designate Honolulu, Hawaii, as the urban area that shall be treated as if such urban area were in the same State as the rural areas of Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, respectively; (ii) specify that the maximum allowable distance shall be the distance between the capital cities of these Pacific insular areas and Hawaii; and (iii) specify that the urban rate shall be based on the urban rate for Hawaii.'.
- H.R. 3999 Trauma Research and Access to Urgent Medical Attention Act of 2004
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Funding and appropriation
Status: not passed into law
Would amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the provision of grants for the improvement of trauma care. Would allow for the use of such funds to expand communications between the trauma care system and emergency medical services through improved equipment or a telemedicine system; or to increase education, training, and technical assistance opportunities, such as training and continuing education in the management of emergency medical services accessible to emergency medical personnel in rural areas through telehealth, home studies, and other methods.
- S. 1 Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act of 2003
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Reimbursement and insurance
Status: not passed into law
Would facilitate the provision of telehealth services across state lines, and increase the types of Medicare-reimbursed originating telehealth sites to include skilled nursing facilities; assisted-living facilities; board-and-care homes; county or community health clinics; community mental health centers; facilities operated by the Indian Health Service or by an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or an urban Indian organization; and sites in a state in which the respective state medical board has adopted a formal policy regarding licensing or certification requirements for providers at distant sites who do not have a license to practice medicine at the originating site.
- S. 1278 Conquering Pain Act of 2003
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Funding and appropriation
Status: not passed into law
Title II, Section 201 would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Public Health Service, to award grants for the establishment of 6 National Family Support Networks in Pain and Symptom Management to serve as national models for improving the access and quality of pain and symptom management to chronic pain patients (including chronically ill patients for whom pain is a significant symptom) and those individuals in need of pain and symptom management at the end of life and to provide assistance to family members and caregivers. A Network that is established under this section shall establish telemedicine links to provide education and for the delivery of services in pain and symptom management.
- S. 1427 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Funding and appropriation
Status: not passed into law
Would make appropriations for the Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program as follows: For the principal amount of direct distance learning and telemedicine loans, $300,000,000; and for the principal amount of broadband telecommunication loans, $336,000,000. For grants for telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas, $25,000,000, to remain available until expended.
- S. 1629 Children's Compassionate Care Act of 2003
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Funding and appropriation
Status: not passed into law
Would amend the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants to eligible entities to implement or expand pediatric palliative care programs for children with life-threatening conditions; such grants may include grants to support communication linkages and care coordination, telemedicine and teleconferencing, and measures to improve patient safety.
- S. 1775 Health Care Safety Net Amendments Technical Corrections Act of 2003
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Funding and appropriation
Status: not passed into law
Would amend the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary to make grants to State professional licensing boards to carry out programs under which such licensing boards of various States cooperate to develop and implement State policies that will reduce statutory and regulatory barriers to telemedicine. Would also make changes to the Health Care Safety Net Amendments of
2002, such as reauthorizing and strengthening the federal health centers
program and the National Health Service Corps, and would establish the
Healthy Communities Access Program to coordinate services for the uninsured
and underinsured.
- S. 1909 Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act of 2003
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Funding and appropriation
Status: not passed into law
Would amend the Public Health Service Act by adding at the end Part R--Stroke Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Programs. Subpart II would provide for grants to states for stroke care systems that include support networks providing assistance to facilities with smaller populations of stroke patients or less advanced on-site stroke treatment resources. Such support networks may use telehealth to accomplish these goals.
- S. 1926 Support Our Health Care Providers Act of 2003
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Programs and demonstration projects
Status: not passed into law
Would amend Section 4207 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33) to extend the telemedicine demonstration project from 4 years to 8 years, and to double the funding from $30,000,000 to $60,000,000. Would also allow the Secretary to expand originating telehealth sites to include skilled nursing facilities.
- S. 2325 Telehealth Improvement Act of 2004
Focus: telemedicine is a primary issue
Subject: Reimbursement and insurance
Status: not passed into law
Would facilitate the provision of telehealth services across state lines, and increase the types of Medicare-reimbursed originating telehealth sites to include skilled nursing facilities; assisted-living facilities; board-and-care homes; county or community health clinics; community mental health centers; facilities operated by the Indian Health Service or by an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or an urban Indian organization; and sites in a state in which the respective state medical board has adopted a formal policy regarding licensing or certification requirements for providers at distant sites who do not have a license to practice medicine at the originating site.
- S. 2382 Native American Connectivity Act
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Funding and appropriation
Status: not passed into law
Would offer block grants to: promote affordable and universal access among Indian tribal governments, tribal entities, and Indian households to telecommunications and information technology in Indian country; encourage and promote tribal economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal governments; enhance the health of Indian tribal members through the availability and use of telemedicine and telehealth; and assist in the retention and preservation of native languages and cultural traditions.
- S. 564 Emergency Communications and Competition Act of 2003
Focus: telemedicine is a secondary issue
Subject: Administration and regulation
Status: not passed into law
Would make certain provisions for the purpose of facilitating the deployment of wireless telecommunications networks in order to further the availability of the Emergency Alert System. Would require each licensee to allocate 4 percent of its capacity for services that promote the public interest, such as telemedicine; educational programming, including distance learning; high speed Internet access to unserved and underserved populations; and specialized local data and video services intended to facilitate public participation in local government and community life.
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