A bipartisan group comprising half the U.S. It also includes creating opportunities now for the technology and necessary care (CONNECT) of the Health Act 2021.
This action will increase the inclusion of Medicare telehealth services and enable certain COVID-19 telehealth capabilities to continue permanently, among others.
“The past year has shown us that social media is active, popular, and non-existent,” Senator Brian Schatz, of D-Hawaii, said in a statement.
“Our comprehensive bill makes it easier for more people to get the care they need wherever they live,” added Schatz, who was one of six senators leading a group of two lawmakers to change the constitution.
Medicare beneficiary acquisition
Questions about the future of telehealth regulations have been tolerated since the provincial government decided to rest some of them during the COVID-19 epidemic.
“The financial backbone is approaching, bringing great uncertainty and concerns about the health and safety of Medicare beneficiaries, as well as the resilience of our heavily burdened health care system,” said Ann Mond Johnson, chief executive of the American Telemedicine Association.
The CONNECT Act aims to answer at least some of those questions, at least where Medicare is involved. The 2021 version of the law will be:
Permanently remove all local restrictions on telehealth services and expand emerging sites including home and other sites
Allow health facilities and rural health clinics to provide health services
Give the Secretary of Health and Human Services full authority to set health limits
Enable telehealth restrictions during public emergencies
You need tutorials to learn more about how telehealth was used during the current COVID-19 epidemic“Telehealth enables more people to get the care they need, which has resulted in better outcomes and lower costs,” said Senen Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi.
“This two-state solution will create health benefits for states such as Mississippi to eliminate existing barriers and increase access for more Americans,” he said.
Representatives of Mike Thompson, D-California; Peter Welch, D-Vermont; David Schweikert, R-Arizona; Bill Johnson, R-Ohio; and Doris Matsui, D-California also brought corresponding legislation to the House of Representatives.
“Important step” for coverage
Telehealth levels have risen sharply since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic. And while they may be somewhat relieved as patients begin to feel safer to return to personal care, one thing is clear: Visual care is about to remain.
A recent HIMSS Market Intelligence study found that about one in two respondents between the ages of 18 and 56 prefer to see their primary care provider after the COVID-19 epidemic.
Those numbers were too high when it came to mental health: More than half the people said that the video was their favorite form of health care.
Mhlanga said the current law exacerbates existing inequalities.
“HIMSS is also proud to support CONNECT for Health Act, and congratulates the leaders of the Senate Telehealth Working Group and Congress Telehealth Caucus for repealing this sensitive law,” Tom Leary, HIMSS’s vice president of public relations, said in a statement. .
Annual effort
This is not the first time that a version of the CONNECT Act has been introduced in the Senate; Schatz and Wicker introduced the first law in 2016.
While some of those original provisions have been officially approved or approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services since then, others remain a widely known step to broaden the definition of vacant site.
“Over the past year, we have seen widespread acceptance of telehealth that ensures equitable access to health care for all Americans and provides safe and high quality care to patients whenever and wherever they need them,” Leary said. “We now urge Congress to make permanent changes to support the use of evidence-based care in order to improve the quality of health care, access and value.”