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.”

Related News Articles

Headline
The AHA May 12 responded to the Office of Management and Budget's April 11 request for information on regulatory relief, making 100 suggestions to the Trump…
Headline
A bipartisan group of 60 senators April 2 reintroduced the CONNECT for Health Act, AHA-supported legislation that would expand patient access to telehealth…
Headline
Today the Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Health and Human Services announced that the effective date for the final rule regarding…
Headline
The Department of Health and Human Services and Drug Enforcement Administration published a series of rules Jan. 15 related to telemedicine prescribing of…
Headline
The Department of Health and Human Services Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center Jan. 8 released guidance on cybersecurity for telehealth…
Headline
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Health and Human Services Nov. 15 issued a final rule extending certain telemedicine prescribing…