The American Medical Association (AMA) is recognizing Congress for passing telehealth provisions in hopes that patients across the country will have easier access to health care.
AMA President Dr. Gerald Harmon acknowledged that the measure will ensure that "patients with Medicare will continue to benefit from this important innovation in health care delivery.”
“Congress has taken a crucial step in starting a revolution in patient access," he said, according to an AMA press release. "The AMA aims to continue being a partner in moving it forward. The dramatic increase in adoption of telehealth that occurred in 2020 has allowed medical care that combines in-person and virtual services to become the new standard of care."
The provisions include allowing Medicare patients' access to telehealth services, regardless of where they live. Before the provision, patients had to live in rural areas in order to access these services. It will also allow patients to access the services from anywhere, rather than traveling to an "originating site." The enactment of the CARES Act in 2020 allowed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) the authority to waive the geographic and originating site restrictions, which CMS subsequently did through the end of the public health emergency.
The provisions also allow for audio-only telehealth services. According to the American Medical Association, underserved communities and those in rural areas weren't able to access two-way audio-visual technology. This provision broadens patient access to the services. Telehealth is typically perceived as two-way audio-visual technology.
“For decades, the AMA has recommended permanently removing the geographic and originating-site restrictions," Harmon said, according to the AMA press release. "Likewise, the AMA pushed to preserve the existing telehealth flexibilities since the COVID pandemic swept the country. It’s refreshing to see Congress agree. As patients take advantage of these changes and health access is broadened, we are hopeful that Congress will see the wisdom of making these changes permanent.”
