Sixty U.S. senators have introduced a bill to permanently expand telehealth flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries.
The Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies, or CONNECT, for Health Act would, among other things, permanently remove all geographic restrictions on telehealth, indefinitely allow health centers and rural health clinics to provide telehealth, and remove in-person visit requirements for telemental health. The flexibilities are currently set to expire Sept. 30.
“One fifth of the U.S. population resides in rural or medically underserved communities where access to virtual care is vital, allowing patients to receive necessary care from the comfort and safety of their homes,” U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said in an April 14 news release. “This bipartisan legislation will permanently remove barriers to telehealth and ensure that more Americans can efficiently and safely connect with their healthcare providers.”
