Amendment #987 to H3400

Telemedicine Pilot Program

Representatives Benson of Lunenburg, Khan of Newton, Fox of Boston and Whipps Lee of Athol move to amend the bill by adding the following section:

SECTION XXXX. Chapter 6D of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 19. (a) The health policy commission shall implement a one-year regional pilot program to further the development and utilization of telemedicine in the commonwealth.  The program shall (i) take into consideration the previously established regions used in prior health policy commission analyses; (ii) incentivize the use of community-based providers and the delivery of patient care in a community setting; and (iii) facilitate collaboration between participating community providers and teaching hospitals.  The commission shall consider existing federal and state regulations in the development of the program.  The commission may direct no more than $500,000 from the distressed hospital trust fund, established in section 2GGGG of chapter 29 of the General Laws, to fund the implementation of the pilot program.

(b) At the conclusion of the pilot program, the commission shall evaluate the success of the program, including but not limited to: (i) cost savings; (ii) patient satisfaction; (iii) patient flow; (iv) and quality of care.  The commission shall make appropriate policy recommendations to the legislature based on their findings.