Telehealth services continue to be a valuable resource to maintain and increase access to hospice and palliative care for patients with serious illness. Current flexibilities that allow for expanded access to telehealth are set to expire at the end of 2024. Congress will need to act before the end of the year to ensure that access to telehealth stays in place beyond this year.

Earlier this year, the House Ways and Means Committees advanced the Preserving Telehealth, Hospital, and Ambulance Access Act (H.R. 8261) which includes an extension to use telehealth for the face-to-face visit for the recertification of the Medicare benefit based on the Hospice Recertification Flexibility Act (H.R.8278).

The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced the Telehealth Modernization Act (H.R.7623) which would extend provisions such as the elimination of geographic and originating site restrictions. 

Both committees passed their respective telehealth legislation with unanimous votes. Although the Senate Finance Committee has held hearings on extending the telehealth flexibilities, to date they have not advanced legislation to extend the flexibilities.

As Congress meets to finish their work before the end of the year, we ask that you reach out to your congressional delegations and ask them to support these bills and include them in any end-of-year health care package. Passage of these bills would allow for the continued use of telehealth. 

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