D.C. Report: MU Stage 2 Timeline, Supreme Court to Hear Healthcare Challenge, ONC Strategic Plan, Telehealth Bill

Telehealth Bill Would Create Pilot Program Under Medicare. At a time when Congress is seeking to cut spending on health programs, the budget neutral bipartisan “Fostering Independence Through Technology (FITT) Act” would create a pilot program to provide incentives for home health agencies across the country to use home monitoring and communications technologies, giving seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries greater access to care while enabling them to stay in their homes. Sponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Thune (R-SD), the FITT Act would provide home health agencies participating in the pilot program with annual incentive payments based on a percentage of the Medicare savings achieved as a result of telehealth services.