HIMSS: Urge Congress to Extend Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities

Unless Congress acts, telehealth flexibilities that have allowed clinicians to provide millions of Americans access to high-quality virtual care since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic will expire at the end of this year. 

For more than four years, Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers and their providers have relied on telehealth as a safe, effective and essential method of care delivery. The flexibilities have expanded access — particularly to specialists — for countless individuals including people in rural and traditionally underserved communities. 

Urge your senators and representatives to support legislation to extend the current Medicare telehealth flexibilities! Tell Congress that telehealth is healthcare, and we cannot go back to the outdated rigid rules of March 12, 2020.

Send a letter using the HIMSS Legislative Action Center.

In 2020, the federal government swiftly enacted temporary waivers and regulatory changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that unleashed unprecedented levels of telehealth adoption. Since then, access to telehealth and connected care has provided an invaluable lifeline to patients and healthcare providers. 

Healthcare organizations have made significant investments in new technologies and care delivery models to meet increased patient demand, adapt to the ever-changing healthcare landscape and to prepare for future healthcare and public health needs. 

Congress has acknowledged that telehealth has become an invaluable tool for patients and providers and has extended these telehealth flexibilities twice already. However, millions of Medicare beneficiaries will lose access to telehealth and connected care services unless Congress takes decisive action. The House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees have recently acted to avert the expiration, but more work still needs to be done. 

HIMSS has long advocated for the temporary regulatory changes that enabled telehealth flexibilities to be made permanent. Senators and representatives now have another opportunity to pass long-term telehealth flexibilities that would extend the coverage of vital telehealth services under Medicare for at least two years.