Federal Funding Bill Extends Telehealth Flexibilities Through September
Congress has passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government until Sept. 30, which includes an extension of telehealth flexibilities under Medicare.
Provisions in the CR extend the following flexibilities: the removal of geographic and originating site restrictions, broader eligibility for which health care providers can offer telehealth services, authorization for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to provide telehealth services, delay of in-person requirements for mental health services, extension of audio-only telehealth services and use of telehealth for hospice care recertification.
Throughout the federal appropriations process, the ACC has prioritized preserving access to telehealth services so that patients, especially those in rural communities or with transportation or mobility issues, can continue to access uninterrupted, quality cardiovascular care. While this six-month extension is temporary, the College supports making pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities permanent.
The ACC is also working to advance federal legislation like the Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehab Services in the Home Act (H.R. 783/S. 248), which would permanently extend certain in-home cardiopulmonary rehabilitation flexibilities initially established due to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly telehealth services. Nearly included in the 2024 year-end spending bill, this legislation was reintroduced into Congress in January with promising bipartisan support.
Although the CR included an extension for telehealth flexibilities, Medicare payment, ACC Advocacy's other main priority during this year's appropriations process, was left unaddressed. The College is working jointly with other medical societies, physician lawmakers and champions of the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (H.R. 879) to pass a Medicare payment fix. ACC members are encouraged write their lawmakers in support of H.R. 879. Find more ways to get involved here.
Keywords: ACC Advocacy, Telemedicine, Medicare
