The pandemic has led to the expansion of telehealth in the Medicare program. This week, the Senate Ways and Means Committee is drafting legislation that could make these changes permanent.
According to a Ways and Means Republican discussion draft, a new COVID-19 relief package would include the permanent removal of geographic and originating site restrictions allowing Medicare beneficiaries to utilize telehealth services from their homes as well as the permanent lifting of restrictions on Rural Health Clinics to provide telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries. The draft also seeks to permanently allow telehealth service through telephone when video conferencing is not available.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will release a proposal this week.