TAFA, Chorus of Patient Advocacy Organizations Stress Urgency, Need for Telehealth Protections Ahead of Energy & Commerce Markup

Campaign Urges Lawmakers to Build Upon Bipartisan Support for Telehealth Protections, Provide Certainty Without Onerous Restrictions

Washington, D.C. – Telehealth Access for America (TAFA) issued the following statement ahead of a markup of legislation on telehealth scheduled for Wednesday in the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

“Telehealth Access for America commends Chairwoman McMorris (R-WA-05) and Ranking Member Pallone (D-NJ-06) for holding this markup and recognizing the urgency to safeguard access to virtual care for millions of patients, without onerous restrictions, and avert the telehealth cliff consumers face if legislation is not passed,” said TAFA executive director Alye Milnar. “This markup adds to the existing bipartisan momentum to protect telehealth and keep legislation moving forward. Millions of patients and providers are relying on action as soon as possible to continue to reap the benefits of virtual care.”

On the markup and need for urgent congressional action, TAFA members and consumer advocates said:

“AARP supports H.R. 7623, the Telehealth Modernization Act, to protect Medicare telehealth flexibilities, ” said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at AARP. “Telehealth benefits can be particularly significant for older adults in rural areas or underserved communities by reducing or eliminating travel and wait times, distance and transportation barriers, and certain travel or transportation costs. Overall, telehealth services are an important care-delivery tool and a valuable complement for in-person care.”

“Telehealth as another means to deliver care has demonstrated the potential to transform the health care system by reducing costs and promoting equality, patient focus and patient satisfaction,” said Mark Schoeberl, executive vice president of advocacy, American Heart Association. “As we pursue our mission to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere, we urge Congress to protect patient access to virtual care.”

“The telehealth flexibilities granted during the pandemic have been a lifeline for arthritis patients who suffer from debilitating joint pain and other associated difficulties that can make accessing in-person care more difficult and are in need of the expanded specialist access that telehealth provides,” said Alisa Vidulich Casavant, MPH, senior director of policy at the Arthritis Foundation. “Given the significant shortage of arthritis specialists, virtual options have increased access for patients to get the care they need. We urge lawmakers to safeguard telehealth flexibilities.” 

“Nearly 9 percent of the entire U.S. population battle an eating disorder in their lifetime – yet only 20 percent of those individuals receive treatment,” said Christine Pear, PhD, President, Eating Disorders Coalition of Research, Policy, & Action. “Telehealth is a crucial tool in improving treatment access and patient adherence to treatment for patients with eating disorders. We are optimistic that committee members will recognize the importance of telehealth and protect the flexibilities at stake.”

“Thousands of lupus patients rely on virtual care options to access the health care they need to manage the disease and mitigate challenges such as extreme fatigue, joint pain and inflammation, and a weakened immune system – all of which can make traveling to in-person appointments difficult,” said Patrick Wildman, senior vice president, advocacy and government relations for the Lupus Foundation of America. “Telehealth is an integral health care option for people living with lupus; virtual care allows them to visit with their doctor quickly and safely from their own home. We urge lawmakers to advance this vital legislation and protect virtual care access.”

“With about 100 days until the current, pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities expire, it is reassuring to see Congress markup legislation that could extend these flexibilities,” said Kandi Pickard, President and CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). “The Down syndrome community has seen brilliant innovation in therapies and other treatments that advance the quality of life for patients through the adaption of telehealth. We urge lawmakers to protect these vital telehealth flexibilities and give the millions of patients relying on virtual care the certainty they deserve.”

“For people living with a chronic condition like multiple sclerosis (MS), telehealth has emerged as a vital tool in maintaining access to healthcare,” said Steffany Stern, National Multiple Sclerosis Society Vice President of Advocacy and Healthcare Access. “Telehealth is critical for those living with physical or cognitive issues that make traveling to appointments difficult, and it removes access barriers, which allows them to live their best lives. Individuals living with MS use telemedicine for a broad range of services, and it is imperative that their access to healthcare providers is uninterrupted. Congress must recognize the widespread need for virtual care options and advance legislation that would safeguard these telehealth flexibilities.” 

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.