Telehealth Group Wants Congress to Repay Claims After Potential Government Shutdown
The American Telemedicine Association urged Congress on Monday to commit to retroactive reimbursement of telehealth spending if federal appropriations lapse when FY 2025 funding expires Sept. 30. The Senate failed to pass either of two dueling continuing resolutions Friday aimed at extending federal appropriations, and both chambers of Congress are set to reconvene only on Sept. 29 (see 2509190061).
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“We are asking -- urging -- Congress to not leave millions of patients and beleaguered healthcare providers dangling on the telehealth cliff while they deliberate over dynamics around a government shutdown,” said Kyle Zebley, the association's senior vice president of public policy, in a statement. If appropriations lapse, “Medicare beneficiaries will no longer have telehealth visits reimbursed and critical programs like the Acute Hospital Care at Home program could face major disruption.” Lawmakers “should at least give providers some reassurance that they will receive back payment for essential healthcare services delivered during this shutdown.”