Houlahan Backs TeleHealth Bill for Seniors

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan

Blogger's Note: The following was submitted by the office of U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th Dist.

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, alongside Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Ron Kind (D-WI), Jason Smith (R-MO) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN), introduced the Ensuring Parity in MA and PACE for Audio-Only Telehealth Act, bipartisan legislation to help ensure Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees who cannot access the video component during telehealth visits are able to access care through audio visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Expanded access to telemedicine has been critical during the pandemic, especially for helping older Americans keep up with care for chronic conditions or preventative visits,” said Rep. Houlahan. “I’m proud to support this bill which ensures people in our community without access to a computer or high-speed internet can still stay connected with their health care provider during this difficult time.”

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, older Americans and enrollees in Medicare Advantage have utilized telehealth services to access the care they need. In many instances, telehealth services can help reduce the risk of exposure for both vulnerable patient populations, like seniors, as well as health care workers,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation that will ensure that seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage, and who may be limited to audio-only telehealth visits, have access to more options and can continue to safely receive the care they deserve throughout this public health emergency.”

“The ability to provide care remotely has been key to keeping PACE enrollees and PACE staff safe during the pandemic,” said National PACE Association President and CEO Shawn Bloom. “The ability to submit diagnoses obtained through audio-only encounters during our national health emergency is key to ensuring providers are paid adequately.”

“Telehealth delivered by phone has been a lifeline to many seniors and people with disabilities throughout the COVID-19 crisis, either because they don’t have Internet access or because they don’t have or aren’t comfortable with video technology. This bill will ensure that Medicare enrollees are not left behind, whether they live in rural or urban settings. We applaud these Representatives for introducing this important legislation to improve health equity and ensure America’s seniors and people with disabilities have access to the care they need, when they need it, in a way that is safe and convenient for them,” said America's Health Insurance Plans’ CEO Matt Eyles.

In order to help facilitate the use of telehealth among MA patients, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has provided flexibility to allow health care providers to offer telehealth services under MA plans. However, this guidance requires that the encounters include a video component, which is not an option for many patients. Low-income and rural patients for example, may have trouble accessing technology or broadband services supporting video communications. Additionally, seniors or at-risk populations may have physical limitations that prevent them from using video communications. For these patients, an audio-only telehealth visit may be the only option besides foregoing needed care.

The Ensuring Parity in MA and PACE for Audio-Only Telehealth Act will allow providers to offer audio-only telehealth services to MA enrollees, providing them with the resources necessary to adequately care for their patients.

Additionally, this legislation ensures that providers will be adequately compensated by requiring MA plans to reimburse them for audio-only telehealth visits as if they were in person visits unless both parties have agreed to a separate payment policy.