ATA to Host Capitol Hill Briefing on State Medical Licensure Reform

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, January 31 the American Telemedicine Association will host an important Capitol Hill briefing entitled, "Physician Licensure Barriers to 21st Century Healthcare."  This public briefing is designed to inform Congressional offices, national organizations and other key stakeholders about how the current U.S. state-based systems to license and regulate physicians unduly restrict quality modern healthcare. Speakers will share constructive ideas for medical licensure reform. 

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"Telemedicine technologies are proven to help deliver quality, cost effective and equitable healthcare anywhere in America," said Jonathan Linkous, Chief Executive Officer of the American Telemedicine Association. "However, our ability to leverage these powerful tools is seriously impeded by a fragmented licensure system, which requires health providers to obtain multiple state licenses and adhere to diverse and sometimes conflicting state medical practice rules. It's time we explore nation-wide licensure reform that will help to increase consumer choice, improve safety and cut costs for patients across America."

The briefing will be held in the Russell Senate Office Building Caucus Room (SR-325) on Tuesday, January 31, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Confirmed speakers include:

• Moderator - Susan Dentzer, Editor-In-Chief, Health Affairs. Health Affairs is the nation's leading peer-reviewed journal focused on the intersection of health, health care and health policy in the United States and internationally.
• Bernard Harris, Jr., M.D., MBA, President of the American Telemedicine Association; President and CEO, Vesalius Ventures.  ATA has been leading the charge in resolving problems associated with state-by-state licensure and regulation of health professionals.
• Kathy Brown, Senior Vice President – Public Policy Development and Corporate Responsibility, Verizon. Verizon employs and provides health insurance to approximately 190,000 employees nationwide.
• Craig Sable, M.D., Director, Echocardiography and Telemedicine, Children's National Medical Center.  Sable provides remote cardiac services to patients in numerous locations in the United States and Africa.
• Deanna Larson, Vice President for Quality & eCare Initiatives, Avera Health. Avera, headquartered in South Dakota, has facilities and provides services in a six state area.
• Fern Goodhart, Legislative Assistant, Office of U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM). Senator Udall has been exploring issues related to state licensure and potential options for congressional action.
• Darrell Owens, Legislative Assistant, Office of Congressman Glenn 'GT' Thompson (R-PA5). Congressman Thompson sponsored the 2011 Servicemembers' Telemedicine and E-Health Portability (STEP) Act, which removed the state licensure burden to allow health care professionals to provide care to servicemen and women in a different state.

This event is free and open to the public. To attend, please RSVP at http://www.americantelemed.org/briefing.

The briefing is part of ATA's larger effort to promote the deployment of interstate telemedicine, by reforming the U.S. medical licensure system.  For more information about ATA's activities in this area, please visit www.fixlicensure.org.

The American Telemedicine Association is the leading international resource and advocate promoting the use of advanced remote medical technologies. ATA and its diverse membership work to fully integrate telemedicine into healthcare systems to improve quality, equity and affordability of healthcare throughout the world. Established in 1993, ATA is headquartered in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.americantelemed.org.

Contact:
Benjamin Forstag
202-223-3333
[email protected]

SOURCE American Telemedicine Association