A group of bipartisan senators have banded together to call for expanded telehealth benefits allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic to become permanent.
Telehealth has seen a surge across healthcare providers after health officials asked providers to temporarily hold off on elective procedures. Instead of providing in-person care that required patients to travel to doctor’s offices and risk exposure to or spread of COVID-19, some providers were able to offer telehealth services to care for patients.
CMS expanded telehealth benefits under Medicare earlier this year on a temporary basis to help providers reduce COVID-19 risks to patients and staff, such as allowing providers to bill for brief check-ins with patients on the phone. Now, a group of more than 30 senators, led by Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), are asking for the provisions to stay for good.
“Americans have benefited significantly from this expansion of telehealth and have come to rely on its availability,” states a letter from the group addressed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). “Congress should expand access to telehealth services on a permanent basis so that telehealth remains an option for all Medicare beneficiaries both now and after the pandemic. Doing so would assure patients that their care will not be interrupted when the pandemic ends. It would also provide certainty to healthcare providers that the costs to prepare for and use telehealth would be a sound long-term investment.”
According to the group, increased access to telehealth care help improve access to healthcare generally, reduce costs and improve health outcomes. For providers, making the expansions permanent might help them in decision making when it comes to investing in stronger telehealth services to facilitate care.
“Congress should expand access to telehealth services on a permanent basis so that telehealth remains an option for all Medicare beneficiaries both now and after the pandemic,” the letter reads. “Doing so would assure patients that their care will not be interrupted when the pandemic ends. It would also provide certainty to health care providers that the costs to prepare for and use telehealth would be a sound long-term investment.”
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."