A group of US Senators have submitted a bill that seeks to permanently extend Medicare coverage for particular telehealth services even after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.
Post-pandemic the Congress should encourage telehealth access
Congress must take actions now to ensure that Medicare patients continue to access telehealth post-pandemic. AMA Trustee Jack Resneck, MD said in a statement for the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee’s health subcommittee that efforts should continue to build capacity.
CMS aims at permanently expanding telehealth services
The Trump administration chose to add more than 60 telehealth services that will be reimbursable during the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes to telehealth coverage will be permitted permanently in rural areas.
Policy changes facilitating access to virtual care should remain permanent
Telehealth regulations have been relaxed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, triggering interest and support for virtual care owing to its benefits like convenience and safety.
Another less spoken advantage of telemedicine is the availability of specialists for patients especially suffering from chronic diseases like cancer.
Congress members aim to address the telehealth’s digital divide
Even though COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the potential of telemedicine to expand access to care, it also highlighted existing disparities in the system, noted the Congress members, Access to broadband is an issue, as pointed out by many telehealth advocates.