Congress Faces Year-End Deadline to Extend Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities

A trade association focused on telehealth advocacy continues to support efforts in Congress to extend many of the Medicare telehealth flexibilities enacted during the pandemic that are due to expire on Dec. 31, 2024. These include the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver flexibilities and the ability to prescribe clinically appropriate controlled substances remotely.

ATA Action, the American Telemedicine Association’s affiliated trade group, said it is strongly supportive of the bipartisan Telehealth Modernization Act of 2024 (H.R. 7623), legislation that would extend many Medicare telehealth flexibilities through the end of 2026.

“These provisions play an essential role in expanding access to care for patients regardless of geographic location and allow a broader range of healthcare professionals to provide telehealth services. We firmly endorse postponement of the arbitrary in-person requirement for telemental health services, which could disrupt the 80% of Medicare beneficiaries who have chosen to see their providers virtually without an in-person visit,” said Kyle Zebley, senior vice president, public policy at the ATA and executive director of ATA Action, in a statement.

“Further, ATA Action strongly supports the five-year extension of the innovative and critical Acute Hospital Care at Home Program, recognizing its value in reducing hospital overcrowding and providing patients with the comfort and safety of receiving hospital-level care in their homes. Although we believe these provisions should be permanent, we understand the current dynamics and support a two-year extension,” Zebley added.

ATA Action is asking Congress to include a two-year extension of remote prescribing flexibilities for controlled substances in the upcoming end-of-year legislative package. “If left unaddressed, this issue could create dire consequences,” said Zebley. “We urgently request that Congress press the DEA to sustain these vital flexibilities by issuing a special registration proposed rule and extending the current waivers for two more years, alongside other Medicare telehealth flexibilities. With limited time left in the year, prescribers, patients, and stakeholders are not equipped to adapt to a new rule immediately.”