AHA-supported legislation would make permanent certain telehealth flexibilities

AHA today voiced support for the Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act (S.1636/H.R. 3440), legislation that would make permanent several telehealth flexibilities provided during the public health emergency. AHA also urged the legislation’s sponsors to further expand the permissible originating sites to any location in which a patient receives a telehealth service, and permanently expand the provider types eligible to perform telehealth services.

“During the COVID-19 PHE, CMS expanded the list of providers able to deliver telehealth to include physical therapists, occupational therapists, audiologists and speech language pathologists,” AHA said in letters of support to the lead sponsors of the Senate and House bills. “This has improved access and patient satisfaction for additional specialties.”