On January 31, your Academy joined more than 330 organizations in submitting a letter to Congress urging their leadership to facilitate a pathway to comprehensive, permanent telehealth reform that would provide certainty to beneficiaries and healthcare providers, while allowing sufficient time for Congress and the Administration to analyze the impact of telehealth on patient care. The letter calls for Congress to advance permanent telehealth reform focused on the following specific priorities:
- Authorize the continuation of all current telehealth waivers through December 31, 2024;
- Require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to complete all feasible evaluations related to telehealth by fall 2023 and combine findings into a single overarching dashboard with recommendations to inform permanent telehealth legislation by Congress; and
- Pass permanent, evidence-based telehealth legislation for implementation in 2024.
AAPM&R will continue to monitor opportunities that push for broader telehealth coverage through legislation. Visit the Academy website for additional information about telehealth advocacy.