A commerce affiliation centered on telehealth advocacy continues to assist efforts in Congress to increase lots of the Medicare telehealth flexibilities enacted throughout the pandemic which might be as a consequence of expire on Dec. 31, 2024. These embrace the Acute Hospital Care at Dwelling waiver flexibilities and the flexibility to prescribe clinically applicable managed substances remotely.
ATA Motion, the American Telemedicine Affiliation’s affiliated commerce group, mentioned it’s strongly supportive of the bipartisan Telehealth Modernization Act of 2024 (H.R. 7623), laws that may prolong many Medicare telehealth flexibilities by means of the tip of 2026.
“These provisions play a vital position in increasing entry to take care of sufferers no matter geographic location and permit a broader vary of healthcare professionals to offer telehealth providers. We firmly endorse postponement of the arbitrary in-person requirement for telemental well being providers, which might disrupt the 80% of Medicare beneficiaries who’ve chosen to see their suppliers nearly with out an in-person go to,” mentioned Kyle Zebley, senior vice chairman, public coverage on the ATA and government director of ATA Motion, in a press release.
“Additional, ATA Motion strongly helps the five-year extension of the revolutionary and significant Acute Hospital Care at Dwelling Program, recognizing its worth in decreasing hospital overcrowding and offering sufferers with the consolation and security of receiving hospital-level care of their properties. Though we imagine these provisions must be everlasting, we perceive the present dynamics and assist a two-year extension,” Zebley added.
ATA Motion is asking Congress to incorporate a two-year extension of distant prescribing flexibilities for managed substances within the upcoming end-of-year legislative bundle. “If left unaddressed, this difficulty might create dire penalties,” mentioned Zebley. “We urgently request that Congress press the DEA to maintain these very important flexibilities by issuing a particular registration proposed rule and increasing the present waivers for 2 extra years, alongside different Medicare telehealth flexibilities. With restricted time left within the 12 months, prescribers, sufferers, and stakeholders aren’t outfitted to adapt to a brand new rule instantly.”