Protections allowing patients to meet with their doctors online are set to expire next month, unless Congress acts to extend them.
The Expansion of Telehealth
Introduced to offer safe, flexible access to care during 2020’s public health emergency, telehealth services have become popular with both patients and providers. Congress previously took action to extend continuity of care for millions who began meeting with doctors online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the Medicare provisions that allow such treatment, including waivers to geographic restrictions, reduced in-person visit requirements and broader eligibility of providers, will expire at the end of the year. Telehealth experts have urged lawmakers not to let that happen; so have advocates.
The Alliance for Patient Access spearheaded a letter to congressional leadership that was signed by nearly 60 organizations, united in their urging for an extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities. The letter highlighted:
- the critical importance of continuity of care
- the need for flexibility through exemptions to geographic and originating site restrictions
- the role of telehealth in bridging health care gaps, and
- the necessity for initiatives that increase transparency and accountability among pharmacy benefit managers.
Patient Access Boosted by Telehealth
Allowing patients to meet with providers and receive care outside of traditional office settings has reduced patient anxiety and out-of-pocket costs. It has also increased access to care for rural and underserved communities. Time and travel costs can be barriers to care, especially for patients with chronic conditions that require frequent tests and routine monitoring.
Now, more than one in four Medicare enrollees reported using telehealth, according to a U.S. Census Bureau survey. Among the nearly 1.2 million adults surveyed, Black patients and those earning less than $25,000 a year were most likely to use virtual health services, which include audio-only visits for those without reliable internet access. Given this data, extending Medicare’s flexibilities would support federal experts’ health equity goals.
Benefits for Mental Health Patients
Online access provides a high, and in some cases better, standard of care for many patients and conditions. Mental health services are one example.
More than half of counties lack a practicing psychiatrist, so in-person appointments are limited and can be difficult to secure. For patients who rely on prescription drugs to manage their behavioral conditions, virtual prescribing supports continuity of care and stability. In-home, private access to care and self-monitoring may also reduce stigma and shame related to seeking mental health support that is still present in many communities.
Telehealth Complements In-Person Care
While telehealth is not a replacement for in-person care, it offers a valuable supplement to traditional care, particularly for mental health visits and follow-up consultations.
Addressing diverse patient needs and reducing disparities requires the flexibility that these Medicare provisions have supplied. By extending these provisions, Congress can ensure that telehealth services continue to bridge gaps and keep essential services within reach for those who need them most.
