'Just because it costs less doesn't mean it's good medicine'
Lawmakers in Arkansas have rejected a telemedicine bill that proponents say would save hundreds of thousands of dollars and reach patients living in underserved areas.
The bill's opponents, however, disagreed claiming that state residents deserved face-to-face medical care.
"Just because it costs less doesn't mean it's good medicine," Rep. Stephen Magie, D-Conway, told Arkansas Online. "It may sound good but I think in the long term it's going to sell our patients short."
[See also: Telemedicine shows ROI at ATA.]
House Bill 1747, sponsored by Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, was rejected by a vote of 49-21. Sullivan, who said the bill "opens up the telemedicine healthcare door to give access and save hundreds of thousands of dollars," said afterwards he would work to submit new legislation.
This story originally appeared on Healthcare IT News' sister site mHealth News. Read the rest of the story here.
[See also: Telemedicine finds favor, but needs vary.]
Topic:
