Telehealth Services May be Extended Under Medicare After Bill Passes Through House of Rep.

The House of Representatives recently passed a bill this week that continues telehealth use under Medicare through 2024 that was initially authorized during the the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bill, H.R. 4040, Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act of 2022, would allow federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to serve as a site for beneficiaries to receive telehealth services anywhere, regardless of type or location. The bill would allow any type of practitioner to offer CMS approved telehealth services and it would continue coverage for audio-only evaluation and management and behavioral health services.

The continuance follows after many telehealth business models regressed to limited serevices that once existed before the pandemic.

The American Medical Association applauded the passing of the bill that is now moving to the Senate for approval.

AMA President Dr. Jack Resneck Jr. commented on the recent news stating, "Increased Medicare-covered access to telehealth has been a lifeline to patients and physicians throughout the COVID-19 pandemic..."

"The COVID-19 public health emergency made plain that care via telehealth should be available to all Medicare patients, especially with their own physicians, regardless of where they live or how they access these services.

"From continuity of care, broadened access to care, and removing geographic and originating-site restrictions, our hope is that the flexibilities afforded during the public health emergency will be made permanent," he added. "This legislation offers an important step in that direction by extending telehealth benefits to December 31, 2024. We urge the Senate to act on this bipartisan bill, and for the Congress to build on this success."