The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) has welcomed the US Congress decision to include telehealth extensions in its omnibus spending package.

“We commend legislators for including critical telehealth extensions in this must-pass legislation, ensuring that patients do not fall off a telehealth cliff immediately after the Covid-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends,” said Kyle Zebley, vice president of the ATA and executive director of its affiliated trade organisation ATA Action. “Extending Medicare and high deductible health plan (HDHP) flexibilities for approximately five months after the PHE expires is a step in the right direction. We look forward to this bill’s expedient passage into law.”

Specifically, the ATA and ATA Action are pleased that if the omnibus passes into law, important flexibilities will remain in place for at least five months after the official expiration of the Covid-19 public health emergency including:

• Originating site: Medicare beneficiaries will continue to be able to receive telehealth services from any geographic location, including in their homes.
• Expanding eligible practitioners: Physical therapists, occupational therapists, special therapists and audiologists will continue to be allowed to provide telehealth services, expanding access to needed care for patients.
• Federally qualified health centres (FQHCs) and rural health clinics (RHCs): The roughly 1400 FQHCs and 4300 RHCs can continue offering telehealth services post-PHE, including for mental health visits.
• In-person requirement for mental health: Providers will not be required to see their patients in person prior to conducting a telemental health visit.
• Audio-only allowed: Medicare to cover audio-only services, an important tool to provide access to services, when appropriate.

“ATA Action has urged Congress to ensure that flexibilities remain in place regardless of the status of the Covid-19 public health emergency while it deliberates on permanent policy changes, including removing requirements on the patient’s location and delaying the prior in-person requirement for telemental healthcare,” said Zebley. “To that end, we commend Congress for continuing the safe harbour for HDHPs to offer telehealth services pre-deductible for the remainder of the 2022 plan year and appreciate that Congress has included a number of reports by HHS and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPac) to analyse the utilisation of telehealth in order to inform Congress’ work to permanently update policy.”

Zebley said he was hopeful for a longer extension in the future or a permanent option to provide more certainty to patients and providers that telehealth won’t disappear, but greatly appreciated this initial extension.

“We will continue to work with Congress and HHS on any additional authorities that may be needed,” he said.

ATA Action has also advocated for Congress to extend flexibilities offered by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) under the Ryan Haight Act for remote prescribing of controlled substances.

“Unfortunately, the omnibus package does not address waiving the requirement that patients must receive an in-person evaluation prior to being prescribed a controlled substance via telehealth,” Zebley said. “We are hopeful that the DEA will make progress on this issue in a more permanent fashion and urge Congress and the DEA to continue to prioritise this issue as an important mechanism for patients to obtain medically necessary treatments, particularly for those who have established relationships with their clinicians virtually during the pandemic.”

ATA Action is a registered 501c6 company and an affiliated trade organisation of the ATA.

The ATA represents a broad and inclusive member network of healthcare delivery systems, academic institutions, technology providers and payers, as well as partner organisations and alliances, working to advance industry adoption of telehealth, promote responsible policy, advocate for government and market normalisation, and provide education and resources to help integrate virtual care into emerging value-based delivery models.