Telehealth industry groups are urging Congress to extend COVID-19 pandemic-era reimbursement flexibilities before the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31.
Multiple COVID-19-era temporary policies and regulations are set to expire at the end of the year unless Congress acts. These provisions include removing geographic site restrictions for telehealth, permitting audio-only telehealth services and delaying the in-person requirement for mental health patients seeking treatment through telehealth.
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The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, a health IT industry group, also sent a letter to Congressional leaders from both parties last Tuesday urging them to pass a two-year extension of these flexibilities. The letter, which was co-signed by more than 60 organizations including several health systems, said the move would bring much-needed stability to patients and clinicians. Many telehealth providers have staked their businesses on the temporary provisions.
The American Telehealth Association, Alliance for Connected Care and several other industry groups are also sending a letter to Congressional leaders asking them to extend the flexibilities. Kyle Zebley, executive director of the ATA's lobbying arm, ATA Action, is confident Congress will act.
“It's being included in bipartisan negotiations now,” Zebley said. “Our understanding is that both Republicans and Democrats have it in their various proposals and counter proposals that are being negotiated.”
A bill sponsored by Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) would extend telehealth authorities in Medicare for two years and extend Medicare's hospital-at-home program for five years. Carter said the bill has broad support, and has already passed two committees in the House.
An omnibus bill in December 2022 extended the flexibilities until the end of this year. Telehealth has garnered broad bipartisan have support across two presidential administrations, as they were initiated by former President Donald Trump and maintained by President Joe Biden. Zebley said he thinks the temporary provisions could become permanent by next year.
“Our hope is that gets extended [at the end of the year] and is on its way to permanency, perhaps, for instance, in a big tax package next year that President Trump wants to see done,” Zebley said.
The letter from CHIME noted the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Health and Human Services Department have already released a temporary rule extending the current policy flexibilities regarding telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances through the end of 2025.
Despite the broad support and adoption from patients, some providers are reducing their virtual care offerings amid reimbursement uncertainty. A survey from consulting firm Deloitte published in October suggested inconsistent support among providers for telehealth, despite steady consumer demand.
