For Immediate Release
Washington, DC – The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Teladoc, Inc. et al v. Texas Medical Board et al supporting the use of telemedicine.
ERIC, the only national trade association advocating solely for the employee benefit and compensation interests of the country’s largest employers, is the voice of large employer plan sponsors on public policies impacting their ability to provide benefits to millions of active workers, retired persons, and their families nationwide. In 2015, ERIC launched its telehealth initiative to promote policies that facilitate access to telehealth. ERIC has actively participated in rulemaking across the nation, advancing policies that provide barrier-free access to telemedicine providers.
ERIC’s amicus brief urges the Fifth Circuit Court to affirm the district court’s order denying the motion to dismiss, essentially keeping the case alive so that the court can consider the merits of the Board rule at issue, New Rule 190.8.
“Telemedicine is good for consumers. It can increase patient access to care without compromising the quality of care. The Board rule at issue in this case effectively bans direct care telemedicine in order to protect traditional market participants — at the expense of telemedicine providers, plan sponsors, and patients,” said Allison Wils, Director of Health Policy, ERIC. “We believe when the court explores the justification for the rule at issue, it will find that the rule was created, not out of concern for maintaining quality health care standards, but out of an interest for market protection.”
Click here to read ERIC’s amicus brief.
To learn more about ERIC’s telehealth initiative, click here.