On July 27, 2022, the House of Representatives passed the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID–19 Act of 2021 (H.R.4040). The bill, which was introduced by Representatives Liz Cheney (R-WY-AL) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12), would extend telehealth flexibilities for two years, through the end of 2024.

Specifically, the legislation would:

• remove geographic and originating site restrictions • expand providers who can offer telehealth service—including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and others
• allow Medicare reimbursement of telehealth services provided by physicians and practitioners working for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Centers (RHCs)
• allow audio-only telehealth services 
• expand access to telehealth services for the recertification of hospice care eligibility during an emergency period.

The bill has moved to the Senate, where its path forward is unclear. While there is broad support for extending telehealth flexibilities beyond the COVID-19 Public Health Table of Contents Encourage your members to join the State Society Network Emergency, a full agenda and limited legislative days are creating obstacles. 

We encourage our members to contact their lawmakers and urge them to make the telehealth flexibilities established during the pandemic permanent.