[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4023 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4023
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the use of
teleconsultation, teleretinal imaging, telemedicine, and telehealth
coordination services for the provision of health care to veterans, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 14, 2012
Ms. Hochul (for herself and Mr. Roe of Tennessee) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the use of
teleconsultation, teleretinal imaging, telemedicine, and telehealth
coordination services for the provision of health care to veterans, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Telehealth and
Telemedicine Improvement Act''.
SEC. 2. TELECONSULTATION AND TELEMEDICINE.
(a) Teleconsultation and Teleretinal Imaging.--
(1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 1709. Teleconsultation and teleretinal imaging
``(a) Teleconsultation.--(1) The Secretary shall carry out a
program to increase the use of teleconsultation, telemedicine,
telehealth, and home telehealth by the Department.
``(2) The Secretary shall, in consultation with appropriate
professional societies, promulgate technical and clinical care
standards for the use of teleconsultation services within facilities of
the Department.
``(b) Teleretinal Imaging.--(1) The Secretary shall carry out a
program to increase the use of teleretinal imaging by the Department in
each Veterans Integrated Services Network.
``(2) In each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2013 and
ending with fiscal year 2018, the Secretary shall increase the number
of patients enrolled in each teleretinal imaging program under
paragraph (1) by not less than five percent from the number of patients
enrolled in each respective program in the previous fiscal year.
``(c) Annual Reports.--Not later than March 1 of each year, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and House of Representatives a report on the Department's
implementation of telehealth and telemedicine programs, including the
program of teleconsultation, telemedicine, telehealth, and home
telehealth under subsection (a) and the program of teleretinal imaging
under subsection (b).
``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `home telehealth' includes, but is not
limited to, the use of telecommunication technology and
information technology to support the monitoring, transmission,
and interpretation of clinical data derived from patients
situated in a home, community, or other non-health-care
facility setting.
``(2) The term `teleconsultation' includes, but is not
limited to, the use by a health care provider of
telecommunication technology and information technology to
assist another health care provider, at a distant site, in
their management, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a
patient.
``(3) The term `telehealth' includes, but is not limited
to, the use of telecommunication technology and information
technology to support the provision of health care in
situations where the patient and health care provider are
separated by geographic distance.
``(4) The term `telemedicine' includes, but is not limited
to, the use of telecommunication technology and information
technology to support the provision of health care in
situations where the patient and health care provider are
separated by geographic distance and the provider is directly
managing the care of the patient.
``(5) The term `teleretinal imaging' includes, but is not
limited to, the use of telecommunication technology and
information technology to support the remote assessment of eye
conditions.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting
after the item related to section 1708 the following new item:
``1709. Teleconsultation and teleretinal imaging.''.
(b) Training in Telemedicine.--
(1) Medical residents.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall require each Department of Veterans Affairs facility that
is involved in the training of medical residents to work with
each university concerned to develop an elective rotation in
telemedicine for such residents.
(2) Rural veterans.--The Secretary shall provide health
care professionals of the Department with education and
training with respect to using telemedicine to provide care to
veterans in rural areas.
(c) Enhancement of VERA.--
(1) Incentives for provision of teleconsultation,
teleretinal imaging, telemedicine, and telehealth services.--
The Secretary shall modify the Veterans Equitable Resource
Allocation system to provide incentives for the use of
teleconsultation, teleretinal imaging, telemedicine, and
telehealth coordination services.
(2) Inclusion of telemedicine visits in workload
reporting.--The Secretary shall modify the Veterans Equitable
Resource Allocation system to require the inclusion of all
telemedicine visits in the calculation of facility workload.
(d) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``teleconsultation'',
``telehealth'', ``telemedicine'', and ``teleretinal imaging'' have the
meanings given such terms in section 1709(d) of title 38, United States
Code, as added by subsection (a)(1).
SEC. 3. AUTHORITY TO WAIVE COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR TELEHEALTH AND
TELEMEDICINE VISITS OF VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1722A the following
new section:
``Sec. 1722B. Copayments: waiver of collection of copayments for
telehealth and telemedicine visits of veterans
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may waive the imposition or
collection of copayments for teleconsultation, telemedicine,
teleretinal imaging, telehealth, and home telehealth visits of veterans
under the laws administered by the Secretary.
``(b) Definitions.--The terms `teleconsultation', `telemedicine',
`teleretinal imaging', `telehealth', and `home telehealth' have the
meanings given such terms in section 1709(d) of this title.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 1722A the following new item:
``1722B. Copayments: waiver of collection of copayments for telehealth
and telemedicine visits of veterans.''.
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