Senator Catherine Young (R-Olean)
ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed into law a bill that will strengthen health care coverage for rural communities across New York State.
The Telehealth Service Bill was sponsored by Senator Catharine Young and is designed to increase access to healthcare programs for rural communities, those with limited means, and patients suffering from chronic conditions.
Telehealth provides patients with greater access to providers, especially specialists who focus on unique diseases; creates faster, more convenient treatments for patients; and reduces cost by limiting loss of work time and travel requirements through the use of two-way video technology to communicate between healthcare professionals and patients.
Under the legislation drafted by Senator Young, telehealth services will now be classified as a reimbursable form of medical coverage, thus ensuring that patients, who would otherwise be entitled to receive the same coverage through in-person based monitoring or consulting services, will now be entitled to receive their necessary care through the use of remote monitoring and other telehealth technologies.
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