Roughly 67 million Americans will lose some of their Medicare benefits by the end of this year.
Unless Congress acts, telehealth services are set to expire at the end of the year, potentially affecting 5% of Medicare outpatient visits.
This means the health care of 67.4 million Americans could be affected.
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Telehealth has skyrocketed in popularity since the pandemic began, and now represents another flexible option for healthcare providers across the country.
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Mental health therapy, dermatologist appointments, and primary care physician visits are all now routinely scheduled via telehealth.
“Telehealth has become an essential part of the healthcare system, especially when it comes to access to care,” said Chris Fong, CEO of Smile Insurance Group. Newsweek.
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“Telehealth's availability was driven primarily by the COVID-19 pandemic, and usage was highest during that time. Usage has declined since then, but continues to be seen by people in rural areas with limited access to health care providers and those who rely on weekly mental health telehealth appointments.”
So far, the House has pushed the Telehealth Modernization Act of 2024 out of committee. If passed, it would extend telehealth services for two years.
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Alex Bean, a financial literacy lecturer at the University of Tennessee, said solving the dilemma of telehealth services will require a bigger solution than just an extension.
“Telehealth has become important in recent years to provide additional health care options for those who are unable to visit our facilities or who have barriers to visiting,” Bean said. Newsweek“If these services are not updated with reimbursement, it will be a devastating blow to the millions of people who rely on telehealth for essential appointments.”
Without an extension, rural Medicare patients could still access telehealth services, but only if they use the health facility's technology to speak with a provider in another location.
Telehealth services will also be approved for stroke, mental health and substance use disorders.
Telehealth services have been shown to reduce emergency room visits and improve health outcomes related to medication management, but they also increase Medicare costs.
The government-run health care system is already facing a funding crisis and could run out of funds as early as the mid-2030s.
A recent study cited in congressional testimony found that telehealth visits are growing 2.2% annually, but the services could come with a $248 increase in costs — a 1.6% increase in per capita spending.
Newsweek The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) was reached via email for comment.
“We want to ensure that people who rely on Medicare can continue to receive quality care and services from their physicians without having to go to a hospital or clinic. Promoting access to telehealth in this way also promotes equity, because people in rural and underserved areas may have difficulty traveling for in-person appointments or have poor access to broadband,” a CMS spokesperson previously said. Market Watch.
