{"id":32343,"date":"2021-06-29T16:35:51","date_gmt":"2021-06-29T16:35:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.mtelehealth.com\/?p=32343"},"modified":"2021-06-29T16:35:51","modified_gmt":"2021-06-29T16:35:51","slug":"manchin-ernst-shaheen-moran-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-make-rural-underserved-telehealth-flexibilities-permanent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drmiltie.com\/at-home-testing\/manchin-ernst-shaheen-moran-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-make-rural-underserved-telehealth-flexibilities-permanent\/","title":{"rendered":"MANCHIN, ERNST, SHAHEEN, MORAN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO MAKE RURAL, UNDERSERVED TELEHEALTH FLEXIBILITIES PERMANENT"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced the bipartisan Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act<\/em> to make current telehealth flexibilities permanent. This legislation would ensure rural and underserved community healthcare providers are able to continue offering telehealth services after the current public health emergency ends. These services include the ability to offer audio-only telehealth appointments because many rural Americans don\u2019t have reliable, affordable broadband access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn rural areas across the United States \u2013 especially in West Virginia \u2013 many Americans don\u2019t have access to reliable, affordable broadband, which is essential for video telehealth services. Instead, many rural Americans utilize audio-only telehealth appointments, which are now equally reimbursed after I fought to ensure that our healthcare professionals are reimbursed fairly for their hard work,\u201d said Senator Manchin.<\/strong> \u201cWhen we began to see the light at the end of the tunnel for the COVID-19 pandemic, we immediately recognized the importance of making these telehealth flexibilities permanent. Our bill ensures that rural telehealth providers can give rural Americans the quality care they deserve by eliminating restrictions on the use of telehealth options and ensuring doctors can be reimbursed for services they provide to patients from the comfort of their homes. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join this commonsense legislation to permanently expand telehealth access for all Americans, no matter where they live in our great nation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven before the pandemic, access to telehealth was critical to helping Iowans in rural areas get the care they need. That\u2019s why I prioritized working with Democrats and Republicans to expand access to these services during this difficult year. Now that we\u2019ve seen its success, there\u2019s no reason we shouldn\u2019t make these changes permanent to continue supporting both our rural patients and hospitals,\u201d said Senator Ernst.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe expansion of telehealth services during the pandemic, including especially audio-only telehealth, has allowed Granite Staters to access the care they need without traveling long distances and risking their health, while also helping health care providers easily connect with patients and earn additional income needed to keep their doors open \u2013 a win-win,\u201d said Senator Shaheen.<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019m pleased to introduce this common-sense legislation with Senator Manchin to permanently expand the telehealth services and ensure that Medicare beneficiaries in areas of New Hampshire that lack broadband can continue to access audio-only forms of telehealth services. It should not have taken a pandemic for Medicare to finally unlock the potential of telehealth services \u2014 and now we need to make sure that these vital telehealth services continue to be available to patients long after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic reiterated the effective and efficient access to care telehealth provides to patients, especially those in rural communities,\u201d said Senator Moran.<\/strong> \u201cEven after the pandemic ends, our health care system should bolster telehealth services as a reliable option to serve patients and help expand health care options and availability for rural America.\u201d The Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act<\/em> would:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n