The Alliance for Connected Care, which includes more than 450 organizations across healthcare, high-tech, and patient and provider advocacy groups, has signed a letter urging U.S. Senate and House leaders to enact a long-term fix for telehealth coverage for Medicare.

The Alliance said there has been too much uncertainty for all telehealth stakeholders, culminating of late with the cessation of services for Medicare patients during the current federal government shutdown.

Permanent Fix Eyed

“Congress has extended telehealth flexibilities multiple times immediately prior to the looming deadlines. Unfortunately, failure to do so this year has led to an abrupt end to telehealth services for millions of Medicare beneficiaries,” the Alliance said. “This cycle of temporary fixes has resulted in patients and providers facing continued disruptions in care. Another short-term extension is unacceptable.”

Organizations in the Alliance include the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, the Cleveland Clinic, the Mayo Clinic, and Microsoft.

The Alliance noted that “temporary fixes have resulted in patients and providers facing continued disruptions in care. Providers are faced with decisions between providing the necessary care for their patients and cutting access to clinicians and services they are providing virtually.”

Millions Missing Access

The group cited a research brief from Brown University that found expiration of the expanded telehealth coverage has cut off access to telehealth services for more than 4 million Medicare beneficiaries. Additionally, it has caused financial disruptions for the 30 percent of healthcare providers that deliver telehealth visits to Medicare beneficiaries.

The Alliance stressed that access to telehealth services serves as a lifeline to millions across the country, allowing patients like those in skilled nursing to access critical healthcare services even when they have barriers to accessing in-person care, such as frailty and weakened immune systems, neurodegenerative disorders, and chronic conditions, which can make travel and in-person visits especially burdensome.

AHCA/NCAL said without congressional action, many AHCA/NCAL members and their residents in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and residences for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) will continue to face disruptions in care.

Read the Alliance letter at https://tinyurl.com/3j8ycud3.

Comments, or questions please contact Patrick Connole at parkplacelive.com.