August 1, 2022
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4040 - Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act of 2021 - by a vote of 416 in favor and 12 in opposition.
This bill would make permanent several telehealth flexibilities under Medicare that were initially authorized during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19.
Specifically, the bill permanently allows:
- Federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to serve as the distant sites (i.e., the locations of the healthcare practitioners).
- Beneficiaries to receive telehealth services at any sites, regardless of types or locations.
- Any type of practitioner to furnish telehealth services, subject to approval by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
- Audio-only evaluation and management and behavioral health services.
The legislation must now pass the U.S. Senate before it can be sent to President Biden's desk to be signed into law.
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