# What the Advancing Access to Telehealth Act Does

This bill makes permanent several temporary rules that allow Medicare patients to use telehealth (video doctor visits and phone calls with doctors) more easily. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government relaxed a lot of restrictions on telehealth to keep people safe. This bill says those relaxed rules should stay in place permanently instead of expiring at the end of 2024.

Right now, if you're on Medicare and want to see a doctor through telehealth, there are several limitations. You might need to have had an in-person visit with that doctor first, or you might only be able to use video visits but not phone calls. You might also be limited to getting telehealth services only in certain rural areas. This bill removes many of those restrictions. It means Medicare patients could use phone-only visits for mental health and substance abuse services without needing a video camera. It expands which types of healthcare providers can offer telehealth services, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other specialists. It also allows more types of clinics, including community health centers and rural clinics, to offer telehealth services to Medicare patients.

The practical impact is that if you're on Medicare and live far from a doctor's office, or if you have mobility issues, or if you simply prefer not to travel, you'll have more options to get care from home. You'll be able to use phone calls for mental health visits, not just video. You'll have access to telehealth through more types of healthcare facilities. Essentially, this bill makes it easier and more convenient for older Americans to access healthcare without having to physically go to a doctor's office for many types of visits.

Advancing Access to Telehealth Act

Dingell, Debbie

Advancing Access to Telehealth ActThis bill modifies requirements relating to coverage of telehealth services under Medicare.Specifically, the bill permanently&nbsp;extends certain flexibilities that were initially authorized during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19. Among other things, the bill allows (1) rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner); (2) the home of a beneficiary to serve as the originating site (i.e., the location of the beneficiary) for all services (rather than for only certain services); and (3) audiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists to furnish telehealth services.