After the pandemic hit, the administration removed barriers that allowed physicians to work across state lines to provide telemedicine. It also made changes to temporarily boost reimbursement for telemedicine and make it more accessible for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
“I have ordered federal agencies to look for ways to make these healthcare reforms totally permanent,” he said.
CMS Administrator Seema Verma penned a Health Affairs article on July 15 outlining the areas CMS is examining to permanently expand telehealth. They include Medicare pay rates for telehealth, fraud abuse prevention and mode of delivery.
A group of bipartisan lawmakers introduced a bill in the U.S. House on July 16 that moves to protect telehealth services after the public health emergency is lifted and requires studying the use of telehealth during the pandemic.
More articles on telehealth:
House bill would secure telehealth expansions after pandemic: 4 things to know
UPMC backs 2 broadband expansion bills in Pennsylvania
The state of telemedicine: 5 things to know
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