MEDICARE  BENEFICIARIES
	Total	Metro	% Metro
Alabama	778,487	520,254	66.8%
Alaska	56,668	35,731	63.1%
Arizona	836,298	761,099	91.0%
Arkansas	494,242	257,149	52.0%
California	4,365,487	4,208,607	96.4%
Colorado	555,006	460,755	83.0%
Connecticut	536,260	487,838	91.0%
Delaware	134,793	95,055	70.5%
District of Columbia	74,112	74,112	100.0%
Florida	3,128,524	2,897,134	92.6%
Georgia	1,104,846	811,945	73.5%
Hawaii	188,856	135,607	71.8%
Idaho	204,939	125,639	61.3%
Illinois	1,738,361	1,419,208	81.6%
Indiana	937,175	699,012	74.6%
Iowa	498,863	234,990	47.1%
Kansas	410,409	232,355	56.6%
Kentucky	708,073	356,491	50.3%
Louisiana	635,618	449,930	70.8%
Maine	245,497	131,569	53.6%
Maryland	722,297	670,065	92.8%
Massachusetts	996,574	992,517	99.6%
Michigan	1,538,231	1,183,522	76.9%
Minnesota	727,938	462,950	63.6%
Mississippi	467,152	178,438	38.2%
Missouri	943,179	637,802	67.6%
Montana	155,126	50,910	32.8%
Nebraska	266,962	124,340	46.6%
Nevada	316,606	272,396	86.0%
New Hampshire	197,493	109,740	55.6%
New Jersey	1,258,034	1,258,034	100.0%
New Mexico	283,200	172,990	61.1%
New York	2,846,997	2,567,918	90.2%
North Carolina	1,346,786	850,400	63.1%
North Dakota	104,905	38,665	36.9%
Ohio	1,800,830	1,427,370	79.3%
Oklahoma	563,034	321,392	57.1%
Oregon	564,349	393,761	69.8%
Pennsylvania	2,181,408	1,797,324	82.4%
Rhode Island	175,132	175,132	100.0%
South Carolina	690,280	498,660	72.2%
South Dakota	128,509	49,630	38.6%
Tennessee	968,131	645,793	66.7%
Texas	2,690,229	2,162,741	80.4%
Utah	252,572	214,694	85.0%
Vermont	101,272	26,884	26.5%
Virginia	1,041,847	807,533	77.5%
Washington	869,583	720,137	82.8%
West Virginia	366,366	187,435	51.2%
Wisconsin	852,893	568,893	66.7%
Wyoming	73,879	22,781	30.8%
United States	43,124,308	33,985,327	78.8%

Why are non-physician providers, such as Speech-Pathologists, Audiologists, Physical and Occupational Therapists, included in this petition?

We urge Congress to extend Medicare telehealth eligibility to Audiologists, Speech-Language Pathologists, Physical and Occupational Therapists and other non-physician providers who are approved Medicare providers. 

Telehealth gives Medicare beneficiaries increased access to rehabilitation. For example, a patient recovering from a stroke or other illness may have difficulty traveling to a  medical facility for treatment. Instead, telehealth could allow them to receive services at home or at a nearby satellite clinic.  Telehealth would also give Medicare beneficiaries greater access to specialists in a particular area of rehabilitation.

Current Medicare law specifies only certain Medicare providers from whom beneficiaries can get covered telehealth care.

How would the Medicare principles affect the availibility of rehabilitation services to Medicare beneficiaries?

Telehealth services by speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and other non-physician providers could be offered by hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, private practitioners, and home health agencies. Through the use of technology, clinicians can provide services that are equivalent to face-to-face treatment. Telehealth can offer a solution to personnel shortages in urban and rural challenging areas by increasing facilitating to providers at a greater distance.

What are the benefits of Telehelath?

Please review Outcomes.pdf for more information.

How can I get the text and current status of the Congressional bills?

Go to http://thomas.loc.gov and under Legislation in Current Congress, Search Bill Summary & Status enter the bill number and click on the Bill Number search option.