For Immediate Release
Washington, DC – The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) submitted testimony to the Pennsylvania State Senate in support of Senate Bill 780 (S. 780).
ERIC, who has been working to remove barriers to telehealth, supports S. 780, because it permits the patient-provider relationship to be established through telemedicine and allows for audio communication without video, rather than exclusively two-way audio-visual communication. ERIC believes this change will benefit citizens that, either because of location or income level, cannot access a high-speed network connection. ERIC’s testimony also highlighted the bill’s language permitting reimbursement for telemedicine encounters to be established between the health care practitioner and insurer.
“The ERISA Industry Committee supports opportunities to expand and improve the delivery of health care through telemedicine in Pennsylvania. We applaud lawmakers for considering the needs of patients by allowing better access to care through the use of telemedicine, while recognizing that providers must maintain a high standard of care” said Adam Greathouse, Senior Health Policy Associate, ERIC. “ERIC is hopeful that the Senate will quickly advance the bill, so that millions of Pennsylvanians can begin accessing care when and where they need it.”
Click here to read ERIC’s testimony.