Committee leaders release telehealth proposals

House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Kevin Brady, R-Texas, and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., yesterday released separate legislative proposals that would make permanent certain Medicare telehealth flexibilities allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A discussion draft of the House proposal would continue to allow Medicare beneficiaries to access telehealth services from their homes and audio-only telehealth services, and remove certain limits on the provision of telehealth services by rural health clinics and certain clinicians, among other provisions.

The Senate bill would expand access to mental health services and certain evaluation and management services furnished through telehealth under the Medicare program.

AHA has identified legislative and regulatory actions needed to maintain or extend telehealth flexibilities implemented during the COVID-19 emergency. The actions address provider/patient location; providers and facilities eligible to deliver telehealth services; types of services; billing, payment and coverage for telehealth.