U.S. Congress has passed legislation that temporarily extends several Medicare telehealth flexibilities for an additional two years.
The Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act is legislation that continues Medicare patient access to telehealth services, including audio-only services, through 2024 after the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The provisions in the bill include:
Waiving current geographic and originating site restrictions.
Allowing continued coverage of audio-only payments.
Delaying the in-person requirements for telehealth services for mental health treatment.
Allowing continued coverage of telehealth services at qualified federal health centers and rural healthcare clinics.
Allowing the use of telehealth to conduct face-to-face hospice recertification.
Allowing certain practitioners, including audiologists, occupational therapists and speech therapists, to continue providing care via telehealth.
A permanent Medicare telehealth policy is still under debate.