House committee discusses future of telehealth

At a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing today, health care stakeholders urged Congress to consider how to ensure flexibilities remain for patients and health care providers in telehealth beyond the public health emergency.

“It is critical to the health, safety and equitable access of our patients to ensure we can continue to provide telehealth services after the end of the public health emergency,” said Megan Mahoney, M.D., chief of staff at Stanford Health Care, who testified at the hearing.  

In a statement submitted for the hearing, AHA underscored the importance of telehealth in increasing access to care, improving health outcomes and avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations. AHA encouraged Congress to eliminate geographic and originating site restrictions so patients can receive telehealth services in their homes and other locations; cover and reimburse for audio-only services; allow licensed clinicians to provide telehealth services to patients across state lines; ensure adequate reimbursement; and expand the types of health care facilities and providers that can offer telehealth care.