Telemedicine has actually been practiced in some form for a long time. As early as the 1960s, NASA was regularly monitoring U.S. astronauts' vital signs including blood pressure and pulse oximetry during space missions. Fifty years, later, devices for remotely monitoring a wide range of needy patients, particularly elderly Americans living with chronic diseases or conditions, are available, but their use has been stymied.
A key factor has been the lack of standardized reimbursement for telemedicine technology and services.
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