A bill that proposes to expand New Mexico’s telehealth Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) to a national model passed the Senate unanimously on Nov. 28, 2016, with a 97-0 vote.
The Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Act, S. 2873, would increase access to healthcare in rural areas by authorizing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study the Project ECHO model.
Project ECHO dramatically increases access to specialty treatment in rural and underserved areas by providing front-line clinicians with the knowledge and support they need to manage patients with complex conditions such as hepatitis C, HIV, tuberculosis, chronic pain, endocrinology, behavioral health disorders, and many others.
The ECHO model™ breaks down the walls between specialty and primary care. It links expert specialist teams at an academic hub with the spokes, primary care clinicians in local communities. Together, they participate in weekly teleECHO™ videoconferencing clinics, which are like virtual grand rounds, combined with mentoring and patient case presentations.
The model is addressing issues such as inadequate or disparities in access to care, rising costs, systemic inefficiencies, and unequal or slow diffusion of best practices.
Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the bill and commented on its passage in a joint statement:
“We’re now one step closer to supporting new ways to train health providers and deliver health care,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. “Our bill capitalizes on…technology to give health professionals in hard-to-reach areas the specialized training they need and help them reach more patients.”
“On a recent visit to southern Utah, I had the opportunity to visit a rural health center and speak to some of the families that rely on services included in the ECHO Act,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT). “Some of these individuals had health conditions that required specialized care or could be managed much closer to home by health professionals they know and trust. By using technology to connect patients and providers, this bill will benefit Utah’s families by helping them receive the care they need, when they need it.”
LeadingAge CAST Reacts
“LeadingAge and CAST support this bill and firmly believe that the model could be potentially applied to support long-term and post-acute care providers,” said LeadingAge’s Senior Vice President of Technology and CAST Executive Director, Majd Alwan.