{"id":32255,"date":"2021-05-27T20:03:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T20:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.mtelehealth.com\/?p=32255"},"modified":"2021-05-27T20:03:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T20:03:00","slug":"pandemics-telehealth-advances-will-be-lost-if-congress-doesnt-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drmiltie.com\/at-home-testing\/pandemics-telehealth-advances-will-be-lost-if-congress-doesnt-act\/","title":{"rendered":"Pandemic\u2019s telehealth advances will be lost if Congress doesn\u2019t act"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

The pandemic has proven telehealth is a critical part of effective, efficient and equitable health care, and the AMA is encouraging Congress to act now so patients don’t lose the option of connecting with their physicians through this convenient, accessible mode of care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In written testimony submitted to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health hearing titled “Charting the Path Forward on Telehealth,” the AMA encouraged Congress to modernize the Social Security Act so that Medicare can continue to pay for telehealth services without the restrictions in current law after the public health emergency (PHE) declaration expires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A waiver put in place by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services following passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act during the pandemic lifted outdated restrictions on how and when Medicare patients can access virtual care, but it will expire once the PHE ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Without further legislative action from Congress, Americans who have come to rely on telehealth services during the PHE will abruptly lose access to these services completely. Congress must act now to remove the origination and geographic restrictions on telehealth coverage for Medicare patients,” the AMA said in its testimony supporting “The Telehealth Modernization Act of 2021,” S. 368\/H.R.1332. The bills have bipartisan support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New payment rules a must<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The AMA’s written testimony also encourages Congress to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n