Bill to expand military telehealth services introduced (US)

Two House representatives from California, Mike Thompson (Congressional District 5) and Scott Peters (District 52) have introduced HR 3507, the 21st Century Care for Military & Veterans Act. This expands coverage of telehealth services (including remote monitoring and virtual consults/telemedicine) for active-duty service members, their dependents, retirees and veterans, including physician reimbursement for telehealth services under TRICARE (the health plan for active duty and military retirees) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Both Representatives Thompson and Peters are concerned about shortages of primary care physicians, the lack of rural health coverage and mental health monitoring.  Rep. Thompson is himself a Vietnam combat veteran wounded during his service with the 173rd Airborne Brigade and is married to a nurse-practitioner; Rep. Peters represents the San Diego area which has many military bases and retirees.  iHealthBeat, Lake County News (California).