Telehealth flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries would be permanently extended under a bipartisan bill sponsored on March 12 by U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA).
“As a pharmacist, one of my top priorities has been increasing the accessibility and quality of health care,” said Rep. Carter. “This bill does both, in a bipartisan manner, and paves the way for more patients and providers to use this technology.”
The Telehealth Modernization Act of 2024, H.R. 7623, which has seven original cosponsors, including lead cosponsor U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), would extend permanent access to telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries to federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Carter’s staff.
“Telehealth is a vital part of our health care system, and we must ensure that it is available to patients who need it,” Rep. Carter said. “By permanently extending telehealth flexibilities for Medicare patients, we are making health care more accessible for seniors, regardless of their physical location.”
H.R. 7623 has been endorsed by numerous organizations, including the American Telemedicine Association/ATA Action, the American Medical Association, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the National Association of Community Health Centers, and the American Hospital Association, among many others.
“The pandemic showed us just how important access to telehealth services are, especially for helping our seniors get the care they need,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “While we’ve made great strides in broadening the availability of telehealth services, we know that there’s more work to be done. I’m proud to join Rep. Carter in introducing the Telehealth Modernization Act this Congress.”