Wine Country Times

On June 15, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04), Doris Matsui (CA-07), David Schweikert (AZ-01), Bill Johnson (OH-06), and Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Roger Wicker (R-MI) introduced the bipartisan and bicameral CONNECT for Health Act, legislation that would expand telehealthaccess for millions of Americans on Medicare.

“Telehealth has become an essential part of our modern health care system because it provides vital access to medical professionals for millions of Americans across our country,” said Thompson. “In an increasingly modern era, telehealth puts care within reach for Medicare beneficiaries, from those living in rural communities to urban centers. The CONNECT for Health Act will provide Americans on Medicare with the peace of mind that telehealth will be covered by their benefits. I have long been a champion for telehealth, going back to my time in the State Senate, and I am proud to carry on the push for permanent telehealth.”

“In order to improve access to and continuity of care across the country, we need to empower people to optimize their wellbeing. Harnessing the full potential of telehealth is crucial to making that happen,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Telehealth has proven its ability to expand access and address disparities in the system. Digital platforms bridge gaps in care while preserving quality and improving health outcomes. That’s why we must permanently remove barriers to this critical resource and make it accessible to more Americans.”

“The bipartisan CONNECT for Health Act ensures patients can efficiently and conveniently connect with their medical professionals,” said Rep. Schweikert. “Americans deserve access to innovative, affordable healthcare technologies like telehealth, when and where they need it most. We’ve made tremendous progress in recent years to advance remarkable health care technologies, and we must keep striving to break down barriers and reduce costs for patients. I look forward to working with my colleagues to expand and make this type of disruptive innovative technology permanent.”  

“In today’s digital age we must continue adapting our health services to take advantage of emerging technologies - and that includes the use of telehealth. It’s proven a valuable tool for improving quality of care, access to care, and above all, reducing health care costs,” Bill Johnson said. “Telehealth continued to surge in popularity even as the pandemic ended. And, to continue the progress we’ve made, we must remove some of the barriers that limit the use of telehealth and continue to evolve and make positive changes. This bipartisan legislation does just that.”

“While telehealth use has skyrocketed these last few years, our laws have not kept up. Telehealth is helping people in every part of the country get the care they need, and it’s here to stay,” said Senator Schatz. “Our comprehensive bill makes it easier for more people to see their doctors no matter where they live.”

“Telehealth is a revolutionary development in health care delivery. The internet put communications and commerce in the palm of our hand, and it is now doing the same for health care,” said Senator Wicker. “After years of dedicated efforts, I am pleased to see the growing support for making flexibility in telehealth delivery permanent. The CONNECT for Health Act will move us toward Medicare beneficiaries receiving the healthcare they deserve.”

“Throughout the pandemic, telehealth was an integral, indispensable tool for providing patient care, and it is vital that we maintain and build on the gains made over the past few years. Medicare coverage of telehealth offers immense opportunities to create better access to health care for rural and other underserved communities, reduces travel time, and serves as a vital tool for patients to receive seamless care with their existing physicians. Permanently extending telehealth coverage will benefit physicians and patients far and wide, ushering in a new era of patient care. We deeply appreciate Representatives Thompson, Schweikert, Johnson, and Matsui for their continued leadership on the CONNECT for Health Act of 2023,” said Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, President, American Medical Association.

Rep. Thompson sponsored the legislation that expanded access to telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries for two years that was included in the omnibus package that passed in December.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2023 would permanently expand access to telehealth services—ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries can continue to receive essential care.

• Telehealth utilization surged in 2020 when CMS waived many statutory restrictions on telehealth to ensure continued access to health care during the public health emergency.
• Recent reports find that older adults and individuals from underserved communities benefited the most from expanded telehealth access.
• Since 2021, Medicare beneficiaries’ telehealth utilization has stabilized at 15 percent, while overall health care use is level, indicating that telehealth often substitutes in-person care.
• With telehealth flexibilities set to expire at the end of 2024, beneficiaries will lose access to care due to statutory restrictions, including requirements that only permit beneficiaries to receive telehealth services if they are in rural areas and at certain clinical sites.
• Permanent changes to Medicare’s coverage of telehealth services are critical in order to protect access to care and fully integrate telehealth into care delivery.

The full bill text can be found here.

Original source can be found here