A new bipartisan bill would allow physical and occupational therapists to deliver care through telehealth on a permanent basis.
The Expanded Telehealth Access Act, introduced last week, comes after the end of the public health emergency (PHE) left many therapists unsure of what kinds of services they could and could not offer in home care and other settings. Weeks later, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reversed course, indicating that therapists could continue to bill Medicare Part B for telehealth services until the end of 2024.
While the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 extended several Medicare telehealth flexibilities until the end of 2024, this legislation goes further. It would permanently allow telehealth services for physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, and PT- and OT-assistant therapy providers in private practice. Additionally, it would encompass facility-based outpatient therapy providers who bill under Medicare Part B.
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) expressed support for the bill and urged lawmakers to approve it.
“The use of telehealth during the pandemic helped ensure patient access to physical therapist services and provided an option for therapy clinics and their patients,” APTA President Roger Herr, PT, MPA, said in a statement. “It is critical that Congress make this option for therapy services permanent for Medicare patients.”
Reps. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) sponsored the legislation. A similar bill was introduced during the last Congress but not approved by the end of 2022. The Expanded Telehealth Access Act’s language is unchanged from the previous bill.
In a press release, Sherrill hailed the importance of telehealth and said the introduction of the bill will protect Medicare beneficiaries.
“The use of telehealth services during the pandemic demonstrated the pivotal role technology can play in improving health equity. For vulnerable populations, especially those with compromised immune systems or in areas far from a provider, this type of access to health care can be a lifeline,” she said. “While the public health emergency is over, the need for telehealth services is not. With this legislation, we are protecting Medicare recipients by ensuring these essential services are covered by their health insurance.”
