Improving Access to Telehealth

• Provide ongoing flexibility and stability lasting beyond expiration of the current public health
emergency declaration that is slated to end in late October without another extension
• Address or mitigate geographic, originating site, and frequency restrictions, allowing patients to
receive telehealth care in their homes, nursing facilities, acute care facilities, and other locations
• Maintain appropriate interstate licensure flexibility considerations with ultimate authority
reserved by states
• Ensure telehealth policies improve care for underserved communities and populations
• Promote adequate infrastructure (affordable broadband, ability to engage in telemedicine on
inexpensive platforms, etc.)
• Study and implement approaches to promote equity and eliminate disparities
• Carefully monitor impact on patient care, experience, and outcomes
• Surveil effect on practices/institutions and the CV workforce
• Promote optimal use of APPs to expand access (including CV rehab)
• Educate the public on the value and limitations of telehealth

Creating Stability for Telehealth

• Promote maximal alignment among payers
• Ensure appropriate payment for the various telehealth services (similar to existing in-person
visits) or ensure appropriate payments are at a level that support practice sustainability and ultimately patient access.
• Maintain coverage for audio-only (may require new codes by CMS and CPT)
• Identify and continually adapt appropriate clinical scenarios/pathways for telehealth with
recognition that remote services cannot replace in-person care
• Consider whether and under what circumstances patient cost sharing requirements for
telehealth services might be appropriate
• Explore HIPAA-compliant software and privacy considerations
• Implement malpractice liability protections for telehealth services