WASHINGTON – Although funding for telemedicine projects garners widespread enthusiasm on Capitol Hill, legislation supporting telemedicine is rarely approved in Congress, American Telemedicine Association officials said Monday.

There are currently 35 telemedicine-related bills before Congress. However, prospects are doubtful for any of the bills to pass this year, according to Jonathan Linkous, executive director of the American Telemedicine Association.

“Love does not equal commitment,” he told an audience during the group’s annual industry briefing.

Earlier this year, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced an amendment to the 2006 HHS spending bill that would have provided $10 million in funding for telemedicine-related activities. The Senate approved the amendment, but a conference version of the bill cut the amount to $3 million. The HHS spending bill has not been approved. ATA leaders say the funding is a good first step and encouraged the association’s members to continue pushing for the funds.

Several signs also indicate that telemedicine is gaining incremental support within the government. First, the ATA estimates that $1.5 million of all Medicare payments are related to telemedicine services, up from $750,000 last year. In addition, Quality Improvement Organizations, which are under contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to work in states to improve care, are now encouraging local healthcare agencies to develop home telehealth capabilities. The Veterans Health Administration utilizes more telemedicine services than any other government department or agency. In 2003, the VA delivered 350,000 services using telemedicine.

To be successful, Linkous said telemedicine needed a champion within the federal government similar to David Brailer, MD, who leads the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.

“We have a long way to go with this administration,” Linkous said.