State Sen. Randi Becker wants Washington to have a meeting of healthcare industry minds on telemedicine that would focus on ways to hold down medical costs and benefit patients. Senate Bill 6519, introduced by Becker at the start last month of the Legislature's 2016 session, calls for experts from the academic community, healthcare providers and others interested in telehealth to form a collaborative. The bill also would expand the allowed reimbursement for healthcare professionals when they provide certain services using telemedicine. Similar Becker-sponsored legislation last year ensured providers will be reimbursed if a patient's health insurance plan would cover the service when provided in person, if the healthcare service is medically necessary, and if the service is recognized as an essential health benefit under the federal Affordable Care Act. "Last year, my bill to harmonize telemedicine-reimbursement practices with the Affordable Care Act was a good first step in expanding the use of this cutting-edge technology,GÇ¥ said Becker, chair of Senate Health Care. "We have relatively low-cost technology at our fingertips and broadening its use would benefit patients statewide. This (newly proposed) collaborative would ensure that is done thoughtfully and systematically.GÇ¥ Telemedicine is practiced by healthcare professionals using a variety of methods. The most common interactive technology, such Skype and FaceTime, to enable real-time video consultations with providers, often through a smartphone. The proposed collaborative would help professionals keep up with technology, Becker said.-á Becker, a Republican from Second District that includes south Pierce County, is chairwoman of the Senate's Health Care Committee, which held a hearing Feb. 1 on SB 6519. She said the bill would "provide more convenience for patients who live in rural communities, a promising tool for treating mental illness in our state, and an effective weapon in our battle against rising healthcare costs. I think the possibilities are endless.GÇ¥
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