Bipartisan House Bill for Permanent Telehealth Benefits Introduced
According to a Feb. 2 press release, U.S. Representatives Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., Tim Walberg, D-Mich., Angie Craig, D-Minn., Ron Estes, R-Kan., Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., and Rick Allen, R-Ga. introduced bipartisan legislation to expand access to employer-sponsored telehealth benefits.
The press release states that “The Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act would allow employers to offer workers standalone telehealth benefits, similar to dental and vision plans, in addition to traditional healthcare plans. The bill would enable all workers, including part-time and seasonal workers, to access telehealth benefits. Under this legislation, stand-alone telehealth benefits would remain separate from traditional healthcare plans and would not serve as a replacement. Instead, this bill would fill a much-needed gap for certain members of the American workforce who lack affordable access to quality healthcare.”
The press release says that with President Biden’s announcement that the COVID-19 public health emergency is set to end on May 11, the telehealth benefits that allowed workers to access standalone services will end without Congressional action.
DelBene was quoted in the release saying that “Even as businesses return to more in-person work, we should not turn our backs on successful telehealth programs that benefited workers in Washington state and across the country. Everyone—regardless of where they live—should be able to access quality care when and where they need it. The Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act is an important step toward modernizing our healthcare system to ensure patients can connect with their healthcare providers from the comfort of their homes on their own schedule.”
On Jan. 31, the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and ATA Action issued a statement following the reports of President Biden ending the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11.
Kyle Zebley, the ATA’s senior vice president, public policy, and executive director, ATA Action said, “President Biden, leaders in the administration and our bipartisan telehealth champions in Congress have taken a clear and consistent stance in support of telehealth throughout the public health emergency and we see no indication that their support will stop with the end of the PHE. However, the ATA and ATA Action implore our government leaders to provide a sense of certainty to a huge cohort of individuals requiring access to important medications for substance use disorders and other necessary drugs via telehealth after May 11. Unfortunately, flexibilities allowing for remote prescribing of controlled substances, as part of the Ryan Haight Act, currently expire with the PHE. Without a plan in place, these vulnerable populations will be left out in the cold, and we are quite sure this is not the intent of our government leaders.”
