Wicker, Schatz Back PPI, AFP on Making Telehealth Rules Lifts Permanent

The Progressive Policy Institute touted support Monday from Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, for the group’s white paper with Americans for Prosperity urging Congress make permanent its temporary lifting of some telehealth restrictions during the pandemic. Lawmakers lifted some limits on telehealth eligibility for Medicare in March via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act and other laws (see 2003250046). “In light of the experience of the past few months, and the benefit to patients, it would be exceedingly odd to go back to the pre-Covid status quo,” the paper said. “Consensus seems to be forming in favor of making those gains permanent.” AFP and PPI urged Congress to continue allowing Medicare recipients to use telehealth outside of rural areas and at home, and to allow providers to deliver such services to current and new Medicare patients. The groups also urged additional broadband funding to boost telehealth availability. “It is refreshing to see two groups with such different perspectives come together to support greater access to telehealth,” Wicker said in a PPI news release. When Schatz “and I started our telehealth working group years ago, we chose to work on bipartisan policy that would improve access to health care and save lives. We will continue to work together to ensure Americans can enjoy the benefits of telehealth for years to come.” Telehealth "is a rare area with strong bipartisan support and it’s here to stay,” Schatz said: “While we have made some progress in Congress on expanding access to telehealth during this pandemic, we have more work to do to make these changes permanent and allow more patients" to take part.