Legislative Advocacy Kickoff with the House Telehealth Caucus The Alliance for Connected Care joined several organizations to host a virtual rally with House Telehealth Caucus Representatives Thompson (D-CA), Welch (D-VT), Schweikert (R-AZ) Johnson (R-OH) and Matsui (D-CA) to discuss the bipartisan Protecting Access to Post-Covid-19 Telehealth Act. The Alliance for Connected Care (“The Alliance”) was [...]
HOUSE LEADERS MOVE TO PROTECT ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH POST-COVID-19 July 16, 2020 – The Alliance for Connected Care (“The Alliance”) is pleased to support the bipartisan Protecting Access to Post-Covid-19 Telehealth Act and we applaud Representatives Thompson (D-CA), Welch (D-VT), Schweikert (R-AZ) Johnson (R-OH) and Matsui (D-CA) for their leadership on this important bill. “Telehealth services have been a lifeline for more than 9 million seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Protecting Access to Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act will ensure that this access does not disappear once the coronavirus emergency is over,” said Krista Drobac, Executive Director of the Alliance for Connected Care. “We encourage all Representatives to cosponsor this important legislation.” The Alliance has long worked with legislators to eliminate outdated 1834(m) originating site and geographic restrictions including longstanding work to support the bipartisan, bicameral Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act. However, in light of the central role telehealth has played in supporting our national response to COVID-19, we are pleased to also endorse the more direct action taken by this bill. Recently, the Alliance helped convene 340 organizations on a letter calling for Congress to make several meaningful and permanent action to address statutory barriers to telehealth. Those groups uniformly called for the remove obsolete restrictions on the location of the patient, expanded HHS authority to determine appropriate providers and services for telehealth, continued telehealth payment for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics and an automatic waiver HHS waiver authority for future emergencies. This legislation takes decisive action on three of those goals. The Alliance is dedicated to improving access to care through the adoption of telemedicine and remote patient monitoring. Our membership brings together diverse industry leaders - from providers of direct patient engagement to physician consultation and remote monitoring, as well as the connected care technologies that are already facilitating the future of health care delivery. Members of the Alliance for Connected Care have seen firsthand how expanded access to telehealth and remote patient monitoring can better coordinate care, create economic efficiencies, and drive better health outcomes. More information on the Legislation: Bill Text Section by Section
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The multi-stakeholder Taskforce on Telehealth Policy is seeking input from the public as it develops policy recommendations to advance quality and patient experience while establishing a stable, long-term environment that fosters the growth and integration of remote services within the healthcare system. The public comment period has been extended to Monday, July 13. Taskforce conveners will [...]
Congress Must Act to Ensure Patients and Providers Don’t Fall Off the “Telehealth Cliff" When Public Health Emergency Ends Today, 340 organizations signed a letter urging Congressional leaders to make telehealth flexibilities created during the COVID-19 pandemic permanent. Those signing this multi-stakeholder letter include national and regional organizations representing a full range of health care [...]
Healthcare Leaders Form Taskforce on Telehealth Policy View a pdf version here. Amidst an unprecedented increase in the use of remote medical services, 20 of the nation's leading healthcare voices today announced the formation of a Taskforce on Telehealth Policy aimed at developing long-term recommendations. The taskforce will be convened by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, Alliance for [...]
The Alliance for Connected Care endorsed H.R.6474 – the Healthcare Broadband Expansion During COVID-19 Act. This legislation would significantly expand funding for the Federal Communications Commission to support healthcare broadband deployment in response to COVID–19.
On April 14, the Alliance for Connected Care wrote the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in response to the COVID-19 Interim Final Rule. The Alliance emphasized the importance of the many changes that were made, and requested several next steps for CMS, leveraging new authorities that is has received under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, [...]
The Alliance for Connected Care commented on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed rule on "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2021 and 2022 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicaid Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly." In [...]
The President has signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (H.R.748). The language is a significant advancement for the telehealth community. Here is a topline of the key telehealth provisions in the bill - Sec. 3212. Telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs. This section would amend the current Telehealth Network and [...]
On March 25, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar sent a letter to Governors calling on them to take a number of actions to strengthen the healthcare workforce as it faces the COVID-19 pandemic, including: Allow licensure across state lines - either in person or through telemedicine Waive state-level regulatory barriers to [...]
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