Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)
Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congressman Zach Nunn (IA-03) introduced the Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation will expand access to health care and save patients time and money by making permanent Medicare coverage of telehealth services that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes would enable patients to be treated at home, allow Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) or Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to provide telehealth services, and expand coverage of audio-only services for certain conditions, among other changes.
“Telehealth enables Granite Staters to virtually access the right care at the right time while saving them both time and money,” said Congressman Pappas. “Making coverage of telehealth services permanent is a practical proposal that benefits patients and providers alike. I’ll continue pushing to protect and expand access to health care.”
“Telehealth is a lifeline for rural Iowans. By making these flexibilities permanent, we’re cutting travel time, supporting rural providers, and ensuring patients receive quality care when and where they need it. This is a bipartisan, practical fix that puts rural communities first,” said Congressman Nunn.
This legislation is endorsed by Alliance for Connected Care, the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, the American Telemedicine Association, the diaTribe Foundation, the Global Liver Institute, National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs, Progressive Policy Institute, the Medical Group Management Association, and National Association of Benefits & Insurance Professionals.
Background:
Congressman Pappas is a steadfast advocate for lowering health care and prescription drug costs, expanding access to care, strengthening the industry’s workforce and training programs, and protecting vital programs that Granite Staters rely on, including Medicare and Medicaid. In 2022, Pappas helped pass historic legislation that finally allowed the government to negotiate for lower drug prices with pharmaceutical companies, capped the cost of insulin at $35, and capped out-of-pocket medical expenses for Medicare recipients.
Last year Pappas introduced the Audio-Only Telehealth Access Act, which would make Medicare’s coverage of audio-only telehealth services permanent and the Rural Health Innovation Act, which would strengthen access to care in rural areas by establishing a competitive grant program for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) or Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to increase staff, equipment, technology, and more. He also introduced the Modernizing Rural Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Utilization Act, the Rural Health Clinic Location Modernization Act, and the Rural Behavioral Health Improvement Act. The bipartisan package of legislation makes necessary updates and modifications to federal guidelines and regulations to modernize access to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and improve services for more than 40 million Americans living in non-urban and rural communities. The bills also remove regulatory red tape and empower rural health care professionals to better meet the needs of the communities they serve.