TAFA Welcomes Congressional Action Providing Short-Term Telehealth Protections, Reiterates Call for Permanent Action to Safeguard Virtual Care Access

Mar 11, 2022

While Temporary Provisions Provides Short-Term Fix, Patients Urgently Need Permanent Reform 

Washington, D.C – Telehealth Access for America issued the following statement in response to congressional passage of short-term telehealth protections in the funding bill. 

“We thank Congress for ensuring patients who rely on telehealth will have access to care beyond the public health emergency, something that a majority of Americans support. But while this is welcomed news, these protections are still temporary and only offer brief reprieve to avert yet another looming telehealth cliff,” said TAFA spokesperson Julia Mirich. 

“As a result, we encourage Congress to urgently enact legislation to permanently protect access to virtual care for the millions of patients who rely on telehealth. Congress recognized the vital role of telehealth by offering this temporary relief, but long-term action is needed to ensure that patients won’t have to worry about their access to virtual care after each stop-gap measure and can continue to receive the high-quality telehealth care they have come to rely on. We look forward to continued work with Congress to avert the telehealth cliff once and for all.” 

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

###