FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON February 09, 2018
Telemedicine for Stroke Expanded with Passage of FAST Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. -
The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have approved legislation that includes a provision to improve patient care by expanding access to stroke specialists via telemedicine, or “telestroke.” On Friday, February 9, 2018, President Trump signed into law a spending bill which includes the Furthering Access to Stroke Telemedicine (FAST) Act, a bill that requires Medicare to reimburse for telestroke services regardless of where a patient receives treatment. Until now, Medicare has only covered telestroke services for patients treated at a rural hospital, but not for patients at urban or suburban hospitals. Telestroke uses videoconferencing to connect stroke patients to off-site neurologists who can examine the patient, immediately interpret brain scan results and make treatment recommendations in consultation with Emergency Department personnel. “Every minute is vital when somebody suffers from a stroke and treatment is needed as quickly as possible,” said Ralph L. Sacco, MD, MS, FAHA, FAAN, President of the American Academy of Neurology. “Accurately diagnosing patients right away can reduce complications and drastically improve outcomes for stroke victims.” Stroke is the nation's No. 5 killer, a leading cause of long-term disability and the second leading cause of dementia. Approximately 94 percent of all strokes occur in an urban or suburban area. Beginning in late 2014, the American Academy of Neurology collaborated with the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) to not only support broader telemedicine bills, but to put forth a standalone bill to expand telemedicine reimbursement specifically. In 2015, the AAN and the AHA/ASA helped develop the FAST Act and found champions to introduce the bills in both the House and Senate. Since then, the associations have conducted hundreds of visits on Capitol Hill with patients, neurologists and staff. “Every year 800,000 Americans suffer from a stroke. After years of hard work by physician and patient advocates, Medicare stroke patients will finally get the access to care that they deserve,” said Sacco. The FAST Act will be implemented starting in 2021.