Bipartisan Effort to Extend Telehealth Services for Medicare Beneficiaries

According to a Sept. 18 press release, the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously advanced the Telehealth Modernization Act of 2024, led by Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Greg Steube (R-FL), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ), Joe Morelle (D-NY), and Debbie Dingell (D-MI), extending telehealth flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries through 2026.

This bill aims to ensure access to telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries through 2026 and extends these flexibilities to federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics.

Rep. Carter was quoted in the release saying that “I am thrilled that the Energy and Commerce Committee came together in a bipartisan manner to extend telehealth flexibilities for Medicare patients. Seniors, individuals with mobility issues, and those living in rural areas rely on telehealth to bring qualified healthcare professionals right to their home. I urge a swift House floor vote on this bill, so that we can get Medicare beneficiaries the life-saving healthcare they need.”

The bill has support from: American Telemedicine Association/ATA Action, Consumer Technology Association, Health Innovation Alliance, Alliance for Connected Care, The Partnership to Advance Virtual Care, HIMSS, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American College of Physicians, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, National Rural Health Association, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Association of Rural Health Clinics, Federation of American Hospitals, American Heart Association, National Organization for Rare Disorders, The Alliance for Aging Research, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, Society of General Internal Medicine, Endocrine Society, American Society of Hematology, AOTA, American Physical Therapy Association, College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, and Hemophilia of Georgia.

Recently, we reported that more than 330 stakeholder organizations asked Congress and the White House to intervene to ensure ongoing access to remote prescribing of controlled substances. The letters were co-led by the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and ATA Action.