Telehealth bill to address rural areas

Illinois residents may soon have permanent access to a new kind of healthcare.

COVID-19 sped up the adoption of telehealth by many, in which patients attend doctors’ visits remotely via video call. The Illinois House recently passed a bill aimed at removing barriers to telehealth services. Illinois Rural Health Association President-Elect Charles James says this is good news for rural patients because so many many people don't have transportation security.  Permanent telehealth access will allow those without reliable transportation to keep appointments they might otherwise miss and stay on top of chronic health issues, he says.  Another important barrier engendered by telehealth technology is broadband access and was not addressed in the bill.

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