Legislation May Bring Payment for Remote Monitoring

A new bill would require Medicare to cover remote monitoring services for patients with heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia.
 
The Medicare Remote Monitoring Access Act of 2008, introduced this month by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), also would create a demonstration program to evaluate potential coverage of these services for diabetes, epilepsy and sleep apnea.

If the bill passes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would work with stakeholders to develop standards for remote monitoring of heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia by Jan. 1, 2010.