AFRO-NETS> RFI: Telehealth in Rural Areas

["B. Hudnall Stamm" <bhstamm@ISU.EDU>]

RFI: Telehealth in Rural Areas
------------------------------

Dear All,

Please forgive any cross postings, but I am trying to get information 
quickly.

I have been asked to present at the Capital Area Rural Health Round-
table, which is a symposium for Congress persons and health staffers. 
I have 15 minutes to make my presentation, which is followed by a 
panel discussion. For more information, you can find the Roundtable 
announcement at:
http://www.isu.edu/departments/irhs/

Now, for your assistance please! I am going to try to make points 
about the use of telehealth to support quality (or any) care in rural 
areas, training, supporting providers in remote areas, and the impor-
tance of interdisciplinary work. I would like to have suggestions 
from you regarding what policy points you think I should make (remem-
ber, Congress is really pragmatic, they want to know what they can 
*DO*).

Of course, I will discuss the issues of some types of mental health 
care providers not qualifying for telehealth reimbursement as provid-
ers under HCFA's interpretation of BBA 97. I also had planned, even 
before President Clinton's announcement yesterday, to talk about the 
Digital Divide for the rural and underserved. Finally, I plan to ad-
dress the importance of appropriations for mental health training un-
der GME and National Health Service Corps.

I would also love to have any stories (brief) that you would be will-
ing to share with me that illustrate the special characteristics of 
working with telehealth or in rural areas or with isolated providers.

Thanks in advance! 

Beth 

B. Hudnall Stamm, Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor Rural-Care
& Asst Director of Rural Health Studies
Pocatello, ID 83209, USA
Tel: +1-208-236-4436 
mailto:bhstamm@isu.edu 
http://www.isu.edu/~bhstamm


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