Your Clients May Soon Be Able To Experiment More With Telehealth

By Megan Williams, contributing writer

Even if your clients have been interested in implementing telehealth initiatives and technology, they’ve probably been held back for multiple reasons — one of the most pressing being a reimbursement environment that discourages providers from engaging in remote medical practices. According to some recent news from Congress, though, this might soon be changing.

mHealth Intelligence reports a bipartisan bill that addresses Medicare restrictions for telehealth access and reimbursement was recently introduced to Congress. The Creating Opportunities Now For Necessary And Effective Care Technologies For Health Act (more concisely known as CONNECT), if approved, would give your clients more freedom to explore telehealth solutions in conjunction with alterative payment models and incentive programs. It would also open the door to them expanding remote patient monitoring programs around chronic care and that target remote and underserved populations.

Estimated Benefits
It’s expected that the bill could save the federal government $1.8 billion, according to an independent analysis by Avalere and Thirdway. Eli Greenspan, Alexander Hecht, and Rodney J. Witlock, attorneys with Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC, weighed in with their thoughts.

“If true, that’s a significant development. For years, telemedicine advocates have heaped praise on the potential cost savings associated with telemedicine through increasing access to care, whether it be through video conferencing or remote patient monitoring services.”

Bill Specifics
The CONNECT Act would primarily create bridge programs that will allow providers to use telehealth to address the goals of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), and additional payment models by addressing 42 individual U.S.C. 1834(m) restrictions.

Industry Reaction
As expected, the bill is drawing strong support from multiple healthcare organizations and telehealth companies. Steve J. Stack, MD, president of the AMA, sees promising potential.

“This legislation has the potential to remove barriers to new healthcare delivery models that promote coordinated and patient-centered care. ... Importantly, the bill aims to maintain high standards whether a patient is seeing a physician in an office or via telemedicine. ... Telemedicine can strengthen the patient-physician relationship and improve access for patients with chronic conditions and limited access to quality care.” He continued, “The AMA’s guiding principles on telemedicine seek to foster innovation while promoting quality care.”

The American Telemedicine Association’s CEO, Jonathan Linkous, also expressed his support.

“We are proud to support legislation that promotes healthcare delivery models in the interest of both the patient and the physician. Telehealth services widen the pool of healthcare options while enabling physicians to treat even more patients. This bill would bring us a step closer to the best healthcare quality and outcomes.”

To read more about past legislation around telehealth, we recommend EHR And Telehealth See Legislation Leap Through 21st Century Cures Act.