Should Congress expands telehealth services beyond COVID-19?

Health
Advancing Telehealth Beyond Covid-19 Act (H.R. 4040)
This bill has Passed the House of Representatives
Bill Summary

This bill makes permanent several telehealth flexibilities under Medicare that were initially authorized during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19. Specifically, the bill permanently allows (1) federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner); (2) beneficiaries to receive telehealth services at any site, regardless of type or location; (3) any type of practitioner to furnish telehealth services, subject to approval by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; and (4) audio-only evaluation and management and behavioral health services. Sponsor: Representative Liz Cheney (Republican, Wyoming)
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Opponents say

•    "As mentioned, telehealth has proved to be a monumental step forward for optimizing follow-up appointments, chronic care management and prescription refills. However, many doctors do not believe telemedicine allows them to deliver quality care in all situations, with 58% of physicians saying that the care they provide virtually is not on par with in-person care." Source: Puneet Maheshwari (CEO of DocASAP)


•    "Physicians believe the biggest barriers to their use of telehealth are payer related, according to survey results released in March by the American Medical Association. The rollback of COVID-19 waivers, the lack of insurer coverage of telehealth services and low reimbursement were the top three obstacles identified in a survey of more than 1,500 physicians." Source: (Becker’s Hospital Review)

Proponents say

•    "This bill will allow Americans to utilize telehealth services even after the emergency declaration has ended. COVID-19 presented unprecedented challenges, including the facilitation of a safe environment for our seniors to receive high quality health care. Fortunately, Congress was able to remove many of the barriers that prevented seniors from utilizing telehealth services from the comfort and safety of their homes. As a result, telehealth use among seniors has continued to rise and this legislation would continue this successful trend well after the pandemic is over by permanently cutting burdensome red tape, while allowing Medicare to adapt to the ever-changing innovation in medical technology." Source: Representative Liz Cheney (Republican, Wyoming)


•    "For seniors, driving to the doctor or even getting out of the house can be difficult in order to access the healthcare they need. Telemedicine offers an easy alternative for people to talk to their doctors and get the care they need from the comfort of their own homes. This legislation would remove barriers to critical healthcare by making telehealth accessible to everyone." Representative Debbie Dingell (Democrat, Michigan, District 12)

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