ICYMI: Bipartisan Senate Leaders Call on the White House, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to Extend Telehealth Flexibilities

TAFA Applauds Lawmakers for Urging Action to Protect Vital Telehealth Flexibilities Ahead of End-of-Year Expiration

In case you missed it, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) led a group of 11 senators in sending a bipartisan letter to the White House and DEA, urging the government agencies to extend COVID-era regulatory flexibilities for telehealth on Friday. 

On the letter, TAFA executive director Alye Mlinar said, “We commend Senators Whitehouse, Murkowski, Warner, and Blackburn, and all others who joined the letter for recognizing telehealth’s crucial role in providing ‘necessary and life-saving treatments,’ as they said in the letter themselves, as well as the urgent need to protect critical telehealth flexibilities set to expire in less than 80 days.”

“We applaud Members of Congress for continuing to demonstrate overwhelmingly bipartisan support for the critical value of telehealth, including as a vital tool for the treatment of substance use disorder and behavioral health, and the urgency to avert a telehealth cliff. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle – House and Senate – should build upon the overwhelming support for telehealth to swiftly pass an extension of telehealth flexibilities into law and continue to work toward permanency,” Mlinar continued. 

In the letter, lawmakers noted the crucial role telehealth plays in ensuring patient access to care, writing, “Telemedicine has been instrumental in expanding access to health care, especially for individuals in rural and under-resourced areas. The flexibility afforded by telemedicine has been particularly important in providing access to essential medications, including those for mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and chronic illnesses. Telemedicine has proven to be an effective tool in reducing barriers to care, supporting those with the greatest need, and bridging the divide between patients and providers.” 

Lawmakers also noted that, “It is essential to strike a balance between regulatory oversight and accessibility, ensuring that patients who benefit from telemedicine continue to receive the care they need without undue impediments.”

Millions of patients rely on these essential telehealth flexibilities and are at risk of losing access to the care they need. Congress must work together swiftly to protect patient access to virtual care. 

Read the full letter HERE and the senators’ press release on the letter HERE.

ABOUT TELEHEALTH ACCESS FOR AMERICA

Telehealth Access for America (TAFA) is a public education campaign supported by leaders in health care committed to better care, expanded patient choice, and protecting access to critical telehealth services.

Learn more at www.telehealthaccessforamerica.org.