(UPDATED) Mental Health Groups Call on DEA for Continued Access to Treatments Through Telehealth
The Alliance for Connected Care and other leading organizations called on the Biden Administration to make modifications to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) proposed rule, Telemedicine Prescribing of Controlled Substances When the Practitioner and the Patient Have Not Had a Prior In-Person Medical Evaluation, to ensure more flexible prescribing limitations for providers when a controlled substance is offered by a highly-trained clinician in conjunction with an ongoing mental health treatment plan.
To read the final letter, see below or click here.
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Open in new tab Alliance Co-Leads Letter in Support of the Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act
The Alliance for Connected Care co-led a letter signed by more than 40 organizations in support of the Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2023 (H.R. 824), which would permanently treat telehealth services as an excepted benefit.
During the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury stated that they would not enforce any penalties if employers wanted to offer telehealth services to their employees who were not eligible for employer-sponsored group health insurance, such as seasonal or part-time workers, for the duration of the PHE. The eased rules allow relief for plan years utilizing this flexibility starting before the end of the PHE. The letter urges Congress to make this flexibility permanent. With the PHE set to end on May 11, passage of this legislation is essential to providing certainty and ensuring expanded, long-term access to these services.
This legislation will ensure hardworking employees, retirees, and their families can access high-quality, cost-effective care when and where they need it most, regardless of employment status. It is our hope that the bipartisan nature of the bill, the need to address this issue with the imminent end of the PHE, widespread support among stakeholders, and the common-sense approach to increasing access to virtual care for employees will propel this legislation forward and ensure quick passage. We urge Congress to take swift action to pass this legislation.
To read the letter, click here or see below:
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Alliance Submits Comments to the DEA Proposed Rule on Prescribing Controlled Substance via Telemedicine
The Alliance for Connected Care submitted comments in response to the request for information from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) proposed rule, Telemedicine Prescribing of Controlled Substances When the Practitioner and the Patient Have Not Had a Prior In-Person Medical Evaluation.
The Alliance highlights its concerns that the rule does not satisfy multiple congressional directives to establish a process for providers to prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine without a prior, in-person medical evaluation. The Alliance urges the DEA to move forward with the development of a special telemedicine registration to ensure access to medically necessary services are available via telemedicine.
Additionally, the Alliance provided specific feedback on proposals in the proposed rule. Broadly, the Alliance was disappointed by the approach taken by the DEA in the proposed rule.
To read the full letter, see below or click here.
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Statement on the Telehealth Expansion Act of 2023
The Alliance for Connected Care is pleased to support the Telehealth Expansion Act of 2023 (H.R. 1843/S. 1001) and applauds Representatives Steel (R-CA), Lee (D-NV), Smith (R-NE), and Schneider (D-IL) and Senators Daines (R-MT) and Cortez Masto (D-NV) for their leadership in introducing this bipartisan, bicameral legislation.
This bill would make permanent the CARES Act authority allowing employers and health plans to cover telehealth visits for individuals with high-deductible health plans coupled with a health savings account (HDHP-HSA) before having to meet their deductible. This flexibility has been critical to ensuring American families could maintain access to a range of affordable virtual care services on a pre-deductible basis throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and is currently extended through December 31, 2024 as a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.
There are more than 32 million Americans with HDHP-HSAs. More than 50 percent of individuals with an HSA live in zip codes where the median income is below $75,000 annually. Reaching the deductible threshold of $1,400 for an individual and $2,800 for a family is often a financial strain. Allowing employers to offer pre-deductible coverage of telehealth services for employees with HDHP-HSAs provides meaningful access to health care services before the deductible is met.
These policies are also popular among patients and plan sponsors in the commercial market. For example, a 2021 survey of health plans found that the top services most likely to improve patient satisfaction if covered pre-deductible for individuals with an HDHP-HSA were primary care visits (81 percent) and the permanent ability to offer telehealth services (64 percent).
“Millions of Americans spend thousands of dollars of their own money on medical services before their insurance kicks in. Even with the benefit of tax exclusion, high deductibles are a struggle for many individuals and families. Why wouldn’t we want to allow employers to cover telehealth, including primary care and mental health services, immediately regardless of deductible? It’s access to health care, plain and simple,” said Krista Drobac, Executive Director of the Alliance for Connected Care. “The Alliance for Connected Care is proud to support the Telehealth Expansion Act, which will ensure individuals with HDHP-HSAs continue to have ready access to virtual-care services on a permanent basis.”
For more information and the Alliance’s advocacy on this policy, please click here.
Telehealth And the End of the Public Health Emergency (PHE)
National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers: Telehealth And the End of the Public Health Emergency (PHE)
The National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers released guidance on how, based on current CMS guidance, waivers and flexibilities are expected to be addressed following the PHE. The guidance provides an overview of expiring provisions and provisions active after the PHE.
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Expanding Care with Teletherapy
Alma: Expanding Care with Teletherapy
Alma, a digital health company, surveyed over 200 therapists and found that nearly 9 in 10 of its therapists want to be able to provide care across the country if their license enabled them to provide care nationwide. The survey also found 67 percent of therapists have already pursued or are considering pursuing licenses in one or more additional states. Of these therapists, about half wanted to maintain relationships with current clients that moved or have moved across state lines. In the last year, 70 percent of therapists had to stop working with a client because they moved, even if they were solely seeing the client virtually.
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Telehealth for Opioid Use Disorder Retention as a Function of Demographics and Rurality
The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Telehealth for Opioid Use Disorder Retention as a Function of Demographics and Rurality
A study published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse found that patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) are significantly more likely to stick with their treatment plan when offered buprenorphine via telemedicine. Patients in the study received buprenorphine via telemedicine, and their 180-day treatment retention rate was 56.4 percent. The researchers also studied a subset of these patients for 365 days, and found that their treatment retention rate was 48.3 percent. These rates are higher than retention rates for OUD patients receiving buprenorphine in-person.
Few Disciplinary Issues with Out-of-State Telehealth
Cicero Institute: Few Disciplinary Issues with Out-of-State Telehealth
This report reviews the states of Florida and Idaho’s out-of-state telehealth approach and found that there were no disciplinary actions with across-state-line telehealth. Additionally, there was a substantial and growing number of providers interested in providing out-of-state telehealth. Despite the attention telehealth has received during the pandemic, few states have implemented robust laws allowing out-of-state clinicians to provide care in their state. As policymakers review their current laws to best help their state be ready for another pandemic, or to improve access to affordable care, Florida and Idaho offer some lessons on across-state-line telehealth for them to consider.
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Many People Still Unaware of Telehealth’s Efficacy
NTT Data: Many People Still Unaware of Telehealth’s Efficacy
According to a survey from NTT Data Services, it is more likely that more patients will gravitate toward telehealth visits for things like filling prescriptions, addressing cold and flu symptoms, annual check-ups that don’t require in-office testing, and other non-life-threatening needs. Survey respondents also agreed or strongly agreed (67 percent) with the statement that they feel more comfortable in their home when they fell ill, compared to 43 percent who agreed or strongly agreed that they felt more comfortable in the hospital.
Alliance Submits Comments in Response to the Senate HELP Committee Workforce RFI
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The Alliance for Connected Care submitted comments in response to the request for information from the Senate HELP Committee on the drivers of the health care workforce shortage.
The Alliance specifically outlined the important role that telehealth can play in addressing health care workforce shortages moving forward and why telehealth should be included in any legislative action on this issue to ensure a comprehensive approach to bolstering the health care workforce nationwide.
To read the full letter, click here or see below:
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