Ascension, SSM Health, Intermountain Health, and Essentia Health are among more than 400 health care systems and organizations that have called on Congress to extend Medicare coverage for telehealth services before it expires on Sept. 30.
The organizations urged a permanent or the longest possible extension and said that a minimum of two years "is needed to ensure stability and provide clarity for patients, providers and the health care system as a whole," according to a letter sent to congressional leaders Aug. 11.
Medicare has covered most telehealth services for the last five years. The letter pointed out that it is a bipartisan issue, and that "access to telehealth services serve as a lifeline to Medicare beneficiaries around the country," allowing care even if they have barriers to care for things like weakened immune systems, neurodegenerative disorders, and chronic conditions, which can make in-person visits and travel particularly difficult.
The letter also outlined other benefits of extending this coverage:
- Certainty for Medicare enrollees, because patients might otherwise lose access to clinicians and services.
- Strengthening the health care workforce, because telehealth enables more clinicians to provide care and address workforce shortages.
- Stability for rural health care systems, which allows smaller and rural organizations to plan for and invest in the tools and infrastructure they need to provide virtual care.
"Telehealth has transformed the way we deliver care at Essentia Health. By providing a virtual care option to our patients, we’ve removed barriers and made it easier and more convenient for patients to receive the care they need," Essentia Health CEO Dr. David Herman said in a statement about the letter. The system provides care in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
He continued: "As a leader in rural health care, we have seen firsthand how telehealth has improved the lives of our patients and become a crucial component of our modern health care system. We are committed to ensuring our patients covered by Medicare continue to have access to these benefits."