Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) and Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-08) introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure key telehealth services offered during the COVID-19 pandemic will continue for two years after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued waivers allowing Medicare beneficiaries to access necessary services through telehealth and making more providers eligible to offer telehealth. This includes necessary flexibilities like making Medicare beneficiaries eligible for telehealth regardless of where they live and allowing at-home telehealth visits.
According to recent data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), 28.2 million Medicare beneficiaries – over half the beneficiary population – have used telemedicine during the pandemic. HHS also reports that 92% of Medicare telehealth visits in 2020 took place with beneficiaries in their homes, an option that was unavailable prior to COVID-19.
The Telehealth Extension and Evaluation Act would extend these critical flexibilities, ensure that rural health clinics and community health centers may continue to provide telehealth, include provisions to deter fraud and abuse, and commission a study on the impact of these extended flexibilities to help chart a course toward permanent telehealth services.
“Expanded access to telehealth services has made it easier for more Iowans to get the care that they need,” said Rep. Axne. “This is especially true for older Iowans and those in rural areas. Telehealth has proven to help folks cut back on travel times to and from appointments and ensures that Iowans who may lack regular access to transportation can still meet with their doctors. Telehealth visits allow Iowa’s health care providers to meet people where they are, and I am proud to lead this effort to make sure we allow Iowans to continue using vital telehealth services.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has proven telemedicine is critical for patient access to health care, especially in our rural communities,” said Rep. Hudson. “As Congress debates a permanent solution for assuring telehealth access, I am proud to introduce the Telehealth Extension and Evaluation Act to ensure coverage is extended for an additional two years after expiration. I look forward to advancing this comprehensive legislation with my colleagues to ensure patients continue to benefit from these important services.”
“The Telehealth Extension and Evaluation Act is a significant and very positive step forward, extending the telehealth flexibilities, including the ability to prescribe controlled substances remotely, for two years post-PHE,” said Kyle Zebley, vice president of public policy, American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and executive director, ATA Action. “The ATA and ATA Action applaud Rep. Axne and Rep Hudson for their tremendous leadership in introducing this bill in the House of Representatives. By extending federal telehealth flexibilities for two years post-Public Health Emergency, including the ability of providers to remotely prescribe clinically appropriate controlled substances, this legislation would give much needed certainty to the millions of Americans relying upon virtual care.”
During the coronavirus pandemic, Rep. Axne has been a strong advocate for securing more access to telehealth services for Iowans.
Rep. Axne also introduced the bipartisan Emergency COVID Telehealth Response Act to ensure that physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, audiologists, and clinical social workers can receive telehealth reimbursement rates from CMS.
Following the introduction of that bill, CMS announced an expansion and clarification of telehealth coverage for four of these key therapeutic services.
Original source can be found here.
