Telehealth Advocates Push for Congressional Action to Preserve Medicare Flexibilities
Telehealth groups are urging Congress to take immediate action following President-elect Donald Trump’s criticism of a funding bill that would have extended telehealth flexibilities in Medicare.
A bipartisan agreement was reached on Tuesday to fund the federal government through a stopgap package that included provisions to extend pandemic-era flexibilities for virtual care delivery for another two years. However, Trump and his allies deemed the bill too costly, leading House Republicans to abandon the legislation. Without intervention, the telehealth flexibilities are set to expire on December 31. Alye Mlinar, executive director of Telehealth Access for America, emphasized the need for Congress to act swiftly to prevent disruptions in care and ensure patients, especially seniors, can continue accessing virtual care.
Scrapping the bill, which aimed to fund the government through March, has left lawmakers scrambling to devise a new plan to avoid a potential government shutdown. Trump’s allies, Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, criticized the bill for excessive spending and alleged “special interest giveaways.” The deal also included significant healthcare provisions such as reforms to pharmacy benefit managers, an increase in physician pay, and the extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities.
Telehealth advocates have been advocating for the extension or permanent implementation of Medicare telehealth flexibilities for months. Initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent disruptions in care, these policies have significantly expanded the use of telehealth services for seniors. While some changes have been made permanent, others are still operating under temporary waivers that are set to expire at the end of the year.
The bipartisan support for these flexibilities, established during the previous Trump administration, indicates that they could still be included in a new legislative package. However, if the current provisions lapse, patient care could be adversely affected. Kyle Zebley, senior vice president of public policy at the American Telemedicine Association, highlighted the potential negative consequences for citizens across the country if the virtual care policies are not extended.
From commercial coverage to Medicare coverage and innovative programs, the impact of allowing the telehealth flexibilities to expire would be widespread. Advocates are urging Congress to prioritize the extension of these policies to ensure continued access to virtual care for all patients.
