U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) on Feb. 9 cosponsored a bipartisan bill to permanently protect access to telehealth services under the Medicare program.
The Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act, H.R. 7444, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), would make temporary expansions set up during the COVID-19 pandemic permanent by modernizing Medicare rules, expanding access to care, and providing certainty for patients and providers.
“Telehealth is a lifeline for rural Iowans,” said Rep. Nunn. “By making these flexibilities permanent, we’re cutting travel time, supporting rural providers, and ensuring patients receive quality care when and where they need it. This is a bipartisan, practical fix that puts rural communities first.”
H.R. 7444 would permanently remove geographic and originating site restrictions, allowing Medicare beneficiaries to receive telehealth services from home, and allow critical access hospitals to directly bill Medicare for telehealth services.
Additionally, the bill would authorize rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers to serve as distant-site providers, and expand coverage of audio-only services for evaluation, management, and behavioral health care. The bill also would lift restrictions on store-and-forward technology currently limited to Alaska and Hawaii, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“Making coverage of telehealth services permanent is a practical proposal that benefits patients and providers alike,” said Rep. Pappas. “I’ll continue pushing to protect and expand access to health care.”
The measure has been referred for consideration to both the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee and the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee.