ATA Working to Extend Medicare Telehealth Coverage Amid April 1 Shutoff Worries
Kyle Zebley, the American Telemedicine Association's senior vice president-public policy, sought Friday to ease concerns of Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and others that Medicare could stop covering most telehealth services on April 1. A December continuing resolution to extend appropriations to the FCC and other federal agencies through March 14 also temporarily prolonged some temporary rules changes, giving Medicare recipients eligibility for telehealth services until March 31 (see 2412230024). Zebley said Friday that “conversations on Capitol Hill confirm that President [Donald] Trump and his team are actively working with Congress to extend vital telehealth flexibilities beyond” March 31.
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“Telehealth is a bipartisan success story, delivering affordable, safe, and effective care to millions of Medicare beneficiaries," he said. "In 2020, the Trump administration acted swiftly to expand telehealth access, a move that has since enjoyed broad support across Congress and the Biden administration. Telehealth must always remain a bipartisan issue.” Congress enacted the expanded telehealth rules during the COVID-19 pandemic (see 2006150032).