AHA provides feedback to Congress on expanding telehealth legislation

As the Congressional Telehealth Caucus considers updates to legislation that would permanently remove all geographic restrictions on Medicare telehealth services and expand originating sites, AHA encouraged House and Senate caucus leaders to consider adding provisions that have expanded access to care during the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

Specifically, AHA highlights support for provisions to permanently eliminate originating and geographic site restrictions and expand eligible provider types; repeal the in-person visit requirement for behavioral telehealth and distant site restrictions on Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics; reimburse on a par with in-person visits; continue payment and coverage for audio-only services; remove unnecessary barriers to licensure; establish a Drug Enforcement Administration special registration process for administering controlled substances via telemedicine; and expand cross-agency collaboration on digital infrastructure and literacy initiatives.