{"id":28921,"date":"2020-09-11T19:25:22","date_gmt":"2020-09-11T19:25:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.mtelehealth.com\/?p=28921"},"modified":"2020-09-11T19:25:22","modified_gmt":"2020-09-11T19:25:22","slug":"aha-calls-for-telehealth-flexibilities-to-be-made-permanent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drmiltie.com\/at-home-testing\/aha-calls-for-telehealth-flexibilities-to-be-made-permanent\/","title":{"rendered":"AHA calls for telehealth flexibilities to be made permanent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The American Hospital Association (AHA) is calling on President Donald J. Trump to make permanent telehealth flexibilities introduced as part of the nation\u2019s response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The call comes in a letter<\/a> addressed directly to Trump sent Aug. 19. It says that the flexibilities put in place by the U.S. Department of Health and human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have allowed hospitals to help their communities by increasing access to virtual visits ensuring that only those who absolutely require in-person visits must leave their homes for medical care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPatients have been empowered by this flexibility to seek and receive virtual care at all of the places they can currently access in-person care, including hospital outpatient departments,\u201d the letter says. \u201cThey have found that the convenience, quality and ease of receiving care in this manner helps accommodate their individual needs and lifestyles, creating a more patient-centered care experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to this, the association calls on the administration to recognize hospitals as telehealth providers by allowing them to also code and bill for virtual services. The other flexibilities the AHA is calling on HHS and CMS to make permanent include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n