It appears Congress will expand telehealth and hospital-at-home flexibility

After months and months (and months) of increasingly vocal and passionate lobbyingIt appears Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill have agreed — but not yet voted — on a year-end stopgap that will include major expansions of several policies related to telehealth and home care.

A vote on the appropriations billwhich includes numerous Medicare and Medicaid benefits long sought by healthcare and healthcare IT organizations, is expected to take place this week.

Telehealth and remote patient monitoring capabilities in the CR include:

• A two-year extension of Medicare telehealth flexibility

• A five-year extension of the Acute Hospital Care at Home program

• A two-year extension that allows telehealth to be covered for the first dollar for high-deductible health plans

The bill also provides reimbursement for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services to be provided via telehealth in Medicare beneficiaries’ homes over the next two years; a five-year extension allowing virtual participation in the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program; and provisions for the SPEAK Act, which requires HHS to develop best practices for improving telehealth services for non-English speakers.

Industry groups have welcomed the bill, not least the American Telemedicine Association, which applauded the “big wins” for virtual care in the bill.

“The expansions of this proposed legislation are deeply meaningful for countless Americans and would provide our healthcare providers and hospital systems with some of the certainty and confidence needed to continue investing in needed telehealth services,” said Kyle Zebley, senior vice president, public policy, the ATA and Executive Director, ATA Action, in a statement.

“This has been years in the making, and we must ensure these expansions remain intact as they come to a vote in both chambers of Congress and then go to President Biden for his signature,” he added. historic week for the advancement of telehealth and puts us on the path to a modernized healthcare system.”

Mike Miliard is editor-in-chief of Healthcare IT News
Email the writer: mike.miliard@himssmedia.com
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS publication.