East Arizona News

U.S. Representatives David Schweikert (AZ-01) and Mike Thompson (CA-04) have commended the House Ways and Means Committee for unanimously passing the Preserving Telehealth, Hospital, and Ambulance Access Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to extend Medicare patients’ access to telehealth services for an additional two years, alongside making necessary program reforms to ensure seniors can continue receiving critical medical care at home.

The expansion of telehealth access for Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic aimed to protect vulnerable seniors by providing them with greater flexibility in meeting with providers without risking exposure at healthcare facilities. Congress extended these essential services through the end of 2024 in 2022. The new legislation ensures that patients can continue receiving care through telehealth without any coverage lapse.

Rep. Schweikert stated, “Embracing telehealth is one of the most moral actions we can take to expand patient access to health care providers, which will in turn make our brothers and sisters healthier while reducing overall costs.” He further expressed his pleasure at seeing the Ways and Means Committee pass this legislation and voiced his eagerness to work with Rep. Thompson to get this bill passed through the House.

Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) said, “For patients with limited broadband access or those living in remote and rural areas, telehealth technologies have proven to be a critical lifeline for patients seeking quality and reliable care.” He added that Rep. Schweikert’s bill would help leverage these technologies to deliver better access to care for Americans at home while ensuring rural hospitals and ambulance services are better funded so that rural communities can maintain access to these crucial services.

Rep. Thompson said, “Since my days in the State Senate, I’ve been a big believer in telehealth’s ability to save money, time, and lives.” He added that protecting seniors’ access to vital telehealth services makes sense.

Several industry leaders have also expressed their support for the legislation. The American Telemedicine Association, Alliance for Connected Care, National Rural Health Association, Moving Health Home, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, ADVION, and the Advanced Care at Home Coalition all commended the representatives for their efforts to extend telehealth services.

The Preserving Telehealth, Hospital, and Ambulance Access Act aims to preserve Medicare patients’ access to telehealth through 2026 and Medicare’s Hospital at Home (HaH) initiative through 2029. It seeks to improve telehealth experiences, make important program reforms, instill new integrity measures, and extend essential Medicare programs that sustain rural and low-volume hospitals through September 30, 2025. It also extends essential Medicare add-on payments for urban, rural, and super-rural areas to preserve access to crucial emergency ambulance services.