30 Senators Send Letter to the Administration Calling for Extension of Telehealth Policies

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and a bipartisan group of 29 senators sent a letter to the administration on June 15 calling to make permanent telehealth waivers and flexibilities that are currently implemented for the duration of the public health emergency.

On May 29, the president signed the Executive Order for Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery (EO 13924) directing the agencies to evaluate waivers and flexibilities offered during the public health emergency that, if made permanent, would provide additional economic support and help the nation recover after the pandemic. As of yet, there has not been any guidance from the administration on what, if any, waivers will be made permanent. The senators are calling for action from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to evaluate how telehealth has been leveraged and utilized to support the health care system during the pandemic, and how making these changes permanent will continue to protect patients and improve care.

CMS has waived numerous telehealth restrictions, significantly expanding the types of providers and patients who can receive telehealth services. All of these flexibilities are currently slated to end at the termination of the national public health emergency.