SALT LAKE CITY — Rural Utahns can now receive more access to medical care with the proposed merger of Utah Telehealth and Education Network.
The bill, HB 92, would merge the Utah Telehealth Network with the Utah Education Network in order to connect people from all over Utah to health care. This bill, heard by committee Friday, Feb. 7, would help reach those in rural areas with limited access to health resources.
Lawmakers are meeting for their annual 45-day session until mid-March.
'A specialist can see, hear and interact with the patient,” said Ray Timothy, director of the Utah Education Network. “This will save valuable time and resources for the patient's care, as they no longer need to transfer the patient from one hospital to another.'
Rep. Ronda Rudd Menlove, R-Garland, who is sponsoring the bill, said, “This is a great opportunity for UTN to merge with UEN.”
She also said Medicaid will help pay for Telehealth, but other representatives hope to see it begin to pay its own way without having to use tax dollars.
“(This bill) is vital to the safety of Utah,' Timothy said. “The only thing missing from this bill is world peace.”
The bill passed the House Health and Human Services Committee with a unanimous vote.