Four organizations closely allied with mHealth are calling on Congress to pay more attention to patient-generated data in healthcare reform efforts.
The American Telemedicine Association, Telecommunications Industry Association, Continua Health Alliance and Association for Competitive Technology sent a joint letter on November 12 to the chairmen of the House Ways & Means and Senate Finance Committees. The three-page letter asks the Congressional leaders to take a closer look at patient-generated health data (PGHD) is they consider repealed the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and reforming the Medicare physician payment system.
"As you consider the future of the sustainable growth rate formula (SGR), we urge you to ensure that incentives for the adoption of interoperable electronic health records (EHRs) encompass the full panoply of patient health data – including data generated from remote monitoring systems," the letter stated.
"The health and financial benefits of remote monitoring are significant," the letter continued. "Remote monitoring connects patients and healthcare providers outside of healthcare facilities, allowing for ongoing treatment and for early discovery of the warning signs for ailments such as congestive heart failure, pneumonia, myocardial infraction and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. By actively involving patients in their own care, they are also empowered – and far more likely – to make healthy lifestyle changes."
Clinical evidence has demonstrated that interoperable remote monitoring improves care, reduces hospitalizations, helps avoid complications and improves satisfaction, particularly for the most chronically ill. The cost savings are tremendous: a recent study predicted that remote monitoring will result in savings of $36 billion globally by 2018, with North America accounting for 75 percent of those savings. Importantly, these benefits and savings could have a significant budgetary effect on broader efforts to address SGR formula issues."
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The letter was directed to Sen. Max Baucus (D-Montana), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee; Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), that committee's Ranking Member; Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee; and Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.), that committee's Ranking Member. It urged the four legislators to make sure that Congress:
- Requires, through HHS incentives, that EHR systems adopt open, voluntary and consensus-based standards for interoperability with remote patient monitoring systems; and
- Establish target goals, also through the HHS, to the use of remote patient monitoring of PGHD for "treated patients with one or more high-priority conditions."
"The benefits of PGHD enabled by remote monitoring devices are poised to transform the delivery of healthcare services in the United States," the letter concluded. "These benefits are especially important for rural areas where frequent visits by patients to medical facilities are more difficult to achieve. However, achieving these benefits will only be possible if EHR systems are required (through HHS incentives) to incorporate PGHD through open, voluntary standards. Meanwhile, HHS must encourage the wider adoption of remote monitoring systems by targeting those high-priority conditions (that) are likely to result in the largest and most immediate savings for the American healthcare system."
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