Yesterday, Congress acted to extend currently existing waivers allowing for the provision of telehealth services to Medicare patients until September 30, 2025, a significant win for the PM&R specialty. This extension guarantees continued access to rehabilitation services via telehealth, allowing PM&R physicians to continue to provide essential care for patients with disabilities, chronic conditions and mobility challenges.

Your Academy has consistently advocated for Congress to pass permanent, or long-term, policies guaranteeing continued access to telehealth services. This advocacy, frequently in partnership with the Alliance for Connected Care and other stakeholders, has focused on providing certainty for Medicare providers and patients who rely on telehealth services.

“Continued access to telehealth services is vitally important for so many patients who rely on PM&R physicians for the care that they need,” said Prakash Jayabalan, MD, PhD, FAAPMR, the chair of AAPM&R’s Health Policy and Legislation Committee. “While six months is significantly shorter than the Academy and allied stakeholders have requested for an extension for current telehealth flexibilities, your Academy will use the next 6 months to continue advocating for a longer-term policy to maintain access to vitally important telehealth tools.” 

Continued Congressional Inaction on Medicare Physician Payment Relief Is a Direct Threat to PM&R Practices

Unfortunately, this bill did not address the 2.8% cut to Medicare physician payment rates that went into effect on January 1 of this year. Learn more about the Academy’s ongoing work advocating for physician payment reform.

 

Take Action Now!

We remain committed to advocating for a sustainable Medicare payment system that values rehabilitation medicine. We encourage all PM&R physicians to: 

• Contact your representatives and let them know that Congress still needs to act in order to provide payment relief for physicians and ensure continued access to care for patients who rely on Medicare.
• Stay informed on legislative developments impacting our specialty.
• Engage with lawmakers and urge them to protect patient access to PM&R care.

Please visit the Academy’s Testimony and Written Comments page for additional updates and contact Academy staff at healthpolicy@aapmr.orgwith any questions.