On July 11, U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson (CA-04), David Schweikert (AZ-01), Doris Matsui (CA-07), and Troy Balderson (OH-12) announced the introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral CONNECT for Health Act, which would expand telehealth access for millions of Americans on Medicare.
Telehealth utilization surged in 2020 when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) waived many statutory restrictions on telehealth to ensure continued access to health care during the public health emergency. Recent reports find that older adults and individuals from underserved communities benefited the most from expanded telehealth access. Since 2021, Medicare beneficiaries’ telehealth utilization has stabilized at 15 percent, while overall health care use is level, indicating that telehealth often substitutes in-person care.
With telehealth flexibilities set to expire in September 2025, beneficiaries will lose access to care due to statutory restrictions, including requirements that only permit beneficiaries to receive telehealth services if they are in rural areas and at certain clinical sites. Permanent changes to Medicare’s coverage of telehealth services would protect access to care and fully integrate telehealth into care delivery.
For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate Sarah Dukett