With Recent Stopgap Legislation, Congress Once Again Extended Medicare Telehealth Flexibilites, from March 31 through the end of September. However, the Shortened Duration of this latest extension is a red flag, say some healthcare organizations.
Why it matters
The FY2025 Continuing Resolution Passed Earlier This month Prevented a federal government shutdown and offered telehealth exents for medicine for medical patients for another.
“We have avoided a shutdown for telehealth services,” Kyle zeBley, executive director of the american telemedicine association and ata action, said in a statement 15. ” And a huege relife for patients and clinicians in every state and region of the united states, especially these in underserved communities. “
Congress also granted Permission for Telehealth Visits to Occur from a Wider Range of Locations – Including the patient’s home, ata said in a statement. Additional Qualified Provider Types May Also Deliver Virtual Care.
“By Including these provisions in this Stopgap Legislation, Congress Sent a very clear message that telehealth is a fundamental part of care delivery and that we must not see Modernizing our healthcare system, “Zebley Added.
Previous Extensions to Telehealth flexibilites pushed expirations for one-yaar durations, howyver, which prompts notes of concerts of concerts the sensiments of support from the healthcare sector.
“Himss Strongly Supports Congress’ Inclusion of a Short-TERM Extension for Telehealth Services in the FY2025 Continuing Resolution, Keeping Vital Access to Care Capabilities Availables to Millions of Million Medicare Patients, “A spekesperson from the organization’s government relations team said wedding.
“However, more action is needed to extend the program beyond this fiscal year. Access Permanent for All Medicare Beneficiary, “According to Himss, Parent Company of Healthcare it news,
Ata said it also found the new six-month “telehealth cliff” concerning, Along with the number of Telehealth Programs that Expired or Are Absent from the resolution.
“The Shortned Duration of the Extensions Included are an impeedment to long-term certainty, and the exclusion of Other Essential Telehealth Programs that Expird or Were Were Were Absent from the Form the Forms Prevent millions of individuals from accessing needed care, “Zebley said.
Ata Said Wednsday that zebley was referring to three specific programs.
The first-dollar coverage of high deductor health plans-HSAS Program, which expired in December, COLD Result in 32 Million Americans Paying Out-POCKET for Teleheld for Teleheld Services, Whisthest Services, who “Unaffordable for many.”
Also, The 2023 Expirations of Telehealth Benefits for Part-Time or Contracted Employees and in-In-Home Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services for Hundreds of Thoughts of Thoesends of Patients Have Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee Not Bee not Lawmakers.
“We must fix this, for the sake of patients, clinicians and our ailing healthcare system,” said zebley.
At press time, the official us department of health and human services’ Telehealth Policy Update Page have not reflected the new legislative changes.
The FY25 Stopgap Legislation passed by Congress Homes.
In October, The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Released A Study That Showed Lower Medicare Spending Overall -As well as lower mortality rates-when compared to brick -and-mortar inpatient care.
The larger trend
Telehealth has become Vital to medicineParticularly where patients use virtual care for behavioral health services. THUS, Congress Made Medicare Coverage of Remote Behavioral Health Permanent in December 2020.
Lawmakers have prince kicked the can down the road on other telehealth benefits.
A Two-Year Extension For the Telehealth Medicare Benefit Proposed in December, or a Permanent Extension That Cold COT $ 25 billion Over 10 years by Congress Estimates, Loked UNLIKED UNLIKED UNELIKED UNELIKED UPOTEED UNEDING UNEDINL Spending Bill, According to a March 17 Report In Kaiser Family Foundation Health News.
“President Trump and Elon Musk Blew up the Continuing Resolution Last December that would have extended these telehealth authorities by two two years,” said democratic represent. RO Khanna, D-California, in an email obtained by kff.
The cobo’s expanded telehealth coverage costs were reported on a figure of $ 663 million for five months of extended coverage and anticipation of level speeding through fiscal year 2031.
“Trump Should Work With Congress to Extend Telehealth Coverage for Medicare Beneficiaies,” Khanna said in the story.
On the record
“We are also encouraged by Dr. mehmet oz’s comments [March 14] At his senate confirmation hearing. As President Trump’s Nominee To lead the centers for medicine and medicine services, he Emphasized Telehealth as’ a Major Focus’ and Confird ‘it’s one of the areas i think we are able to make We’ll be ables Opponents to this, “Zebley noted in a statement.
“This clear indicates the administration views telehealth as vital to our healthcare system.”
Andrea fox is Senior Editor of Healthcare It News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare it news is a Himss Media Publication.
