Washington (H24N). Troublesome computer viruses aside, modern information technology continues to revamp the way medicine is practiced. Healthcare professionals and patients who live in remote areas increasingly have instant access to medical specialists and experts via audio and visual technology called telemedicine.

While telemedicine gains popularity in the military and in private use, it is not always covered by Medicare. That has prompted the introduction of legislation in the Senate that would amend current Medicare rules to cover more of the costs of telemedicine. In 1999, Medicare only covered 6 percent of all telemedicine doctor-patient visits with senior citizens and disabled persons.

One of the bill sponsors, Sen. Jim Jeffords (R-Vt.), explained how important telemedicine can be in certain parts of the country. "In remote rural areas, where a patient and the closest health professional can be hundreds of miles apart, telemedicine can mean access to health care where little had been available before," Jeffords said. "This legislation streamlines federal regulations to help hospitals and patients better utilize telemedicine programs."

Calling the changes "relatively minor," he remarked that the effect would "be far-reaching, saying that more than 25 percent of senior citizens live in areas underserved for modern health-care services. Jeffords noted that in his home state, nearly 70 percent live in rural areas, the highest percentage rural population of any state in the nation.

"By better utilizing high technology we should not only be able to increase the quality of health care, but also increase efficiency and see cost savings," Jeffords said.

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