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Telehealth - Using Technology to Help Patients
Murray's Work
Senator Murray is an advocate for using technology to help patients. She’s working to expand access to telehealth. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has proposed cutting our nation’s telehealth efforts and eliminating the federal office that promotes telehealth nationwide.
Connecting Rural Patients to Children’s Hospital in Seattle - Since 1998, Senator Murray has worked to secure $3 million for a telemedicine project at Children’s Hospital in Seattle in cooperation with the University of Washington. This project provides access to the pediatric specialty care and research at Children’s Hospital in Seattle to children throughout the entire region.
Support for Federal Telehealth Programs - Senator Murray worked on the FY 2002 LHHS Conference Report to provide sufficient funding to maintain the telehealth office and directed the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to maintain the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth.
Senator Murray also increased funding for the Office of Rural Health Policy by $3 million (FY 2002).
Health Care Safety Net Authorization Act - Now Law - As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Murray helped draft the “Health Care Safety Net Authorization Act.” (S. 1533) This bill provides a comprehensive plan to expand telehealth. It establishes Centers of Excellence to help providers use telehealth. This bill passed the Senate on April 16, 2002 and was signed into law.
Follow the links below to see the WA state projects Sen. Murray has supported:
Federal Telehealth Grants in Washington State
USDA – Rural Utilities Services (RUS) Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) WA State Winners
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Supporting Telehealth in the 108th Congress
Unfortunately, in its FY 2004 Budget, the Bush Administration has once again proposed cutting funding for federal telehealth efforts and closing the federal Office for the Advancement of Telehealth. As she did successfully in the 107th Congress, Senator Murray will fight these cuts and closings.
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray is working with other members of the Senate Rural Health Caucus to increase funding for the Telemedicine Grant Program and the federal Office for the Advancement of Telehealth
Rural Health Outreach, Network Development and Telemedicine Grant Program - These grants are available to rural communities working to provide health care services through new and creative strategies including telemedicine and trauma care services. Grantees are also awarded needed funding to develop formal, integrated networks of providers that deliver primary and acute care services.
Office for the Advancement of Telehealth - The Office for the Advancement of Telehealth leads, coordinates and promotes the use of telehealth technologies. It fosters partnerships between federal agencies, states, and private sector groups to create telehealth projects.
H-CARE Act - Pending - Senator Murray is an original cosponsor of the Health Care Access and Rural Equity Act (H-CARE) of 2003. (S.816) Because one of the biggest obstacles for rural hospitals and providers is the initial capital investment in telehealth, the bill includes funding for the Capital Infrastructure Loan Program. Similar to S. 1030 from the 107th Congress, this program would make available $5 million in loans to help rural facilities improve crumbling buildings and infrastructure. In addition, rural providers could apply to receive $50,000 planning grants to help assess capital and infrastructure needs. This program would be authorized through September 30, 2008.
Federal Telehealth Budget FY 2002 - $39.2 million FY 2005 - Murray's Proposal - $44 million |
Murray’s proposal will also maintain the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth.
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Links
Federal
Office for the Advancement of Telehealth
Indian Health Service: Telemedicine and Telehealth Projects
National Library of Medicine: National Telemedicine Initiative
Washington State
Federal Telehealth Grants in Washington State
USDA – Rural Utilities Services (RUS) Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) WA State Winners
Washington Rural Health Association
Washington State Office of Rural and Community Health
Children's Hospital of Seattle