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Abstract: Telemedicine services, such as virtual consultations and remote patient monitoring, are revolutionizing health care delivery. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 ("ACA") promotes the use of technology in health care reform as a means to increase quality and access while reducing costs. Despite the excitement around telemedicine, the lack of Medicare reimbursement hinders access and innovation. This Note analyzes the utilization of telemedicine to promote health care access for Medicare beneficiaries, and argues that legislative and regulatory changes are needed to reconcile current Medicare policies with the ACA's encouragement of using telemedicine services. Specifically, this Note recommends that Congress expand telemedicine reimbursement by increasing the number of covered telemedicine services, and by lifting site restrictions and geographical limitations on reimbursement.
INTRODUCTION
Imagine having an ailment and being able to avoid scheduling an appointment, taking time off from work, and traveling to your doctor's office.1 Instead, you go online in the comfort of your home, complete a virtual consultation with a physician, and in less than an hour, a physician provides a diagnosis and prescribes a treatment plan.2 Companies like Teladoc, MDLIVE, and American Well are a few examples of a growing number of companies providing health services through virtual consultation.3 HelloMD, a telemedicine startup based in San Francisco, even assists patients in California in obtaining medical cannabis identification cards without ever stepping foot in a doctor's office.4
The popularity of telemedicine continues to increase as technology advances and patients become more tech-savvy.5 According to one study, roughly seventy-five percent of patients in the United States are willing to use telemedicine services, and roughly the same number of patients prioritize access to care over in-person interactions.6 The increase in telemedicine's popularity can also be attributed to the current state of health care in the United States.7 Despite the fact that the United States spends more money on health services than any other country in the world, Americans still struggle to access quality and affordable care.8
As more people become eligible for Medicare or gain health coverage through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 ("ACA"), the question remains whether individuals are actually accessing the care for which they have coverage.9 Some barriers to access include the lack of primary...