NEW CONTINUING RESOLUTION PASSES, KEEPS SOME TELEHEALTH FLEXIBILITIES ALIVE
Medicare telehealth flexibilities and the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program Extensions through March 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C., DECEMBER 21, 2024 – The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and ATA Action respond to passage of a slimmed-down, short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) by Congress. The bill includes extension of the Medicare telehealth flexibilities and the Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCAH) program through March 31, 2025.
“While this isn’t the outcome we had fully hoped for, the ATA and ATA Action are appreciative of this legislation as an important step to avoid disruptions in critical areas of telehealth access,” said Kyle Zebley, senior vice president, public policy, the ATA, and executive director, ATA Action. “Looking ahead, we will immediately begin working to ensure Congress makes Medicare telehealth flexibilities and the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program permanent—or secures a much longer extension than 90 days. Simultaneously, we will advocate vigorously to reinstate the vital provisions that were left out of this package.”
Several critical telehealth provisions in the original bill were not included in the final year-end funding package:
- First dollar coverage of High Deductible Health Plans – Health Savings Accounts (HDHP-HSA) tax provision
- In-home cardiology rehabilitation flexibilities
- Virtual diabetes prevention program suppliers in Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP)
- SPEAK Act which facilitates guidance and access to best practices on providing telehealth services accessibly
“While we are encouraged that the Medicare flexibilities and AHCAH have been given a short-term extension, this is still far from an ideal outcome. We will continue to foster positive and productive collaboration with Congress and the White House, and expect even more work ahead, with heightened urgency, in the coming months with a new administration and Congress to ensure that high-quality patient care is uninterrupted,” Zebley added. “A heartfelt thank you to our Congressional policy champions on both sides of the aisle, President Trump and President Biden, whose unwavering dedication and perseverance have been instrumental in advancing virtual care. Together, with future actions to come, we are on the brink of achieving landmark victories for patients, the healthcare system, and the future of care delivery.”
About the ATA
As the only organization completely focused on advancing telehealth, the American Telemedicine Association is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and appropriate care when and where they need it, enabling the system to do more good for more people. The ATA represents a broad and inclusive member network of leading healthcare delivery systems, academic institutions, technology solution providers and payers, as well as partner organizations and alliances, working to advance industry adoption of telehealth, promote responsible policy, advocate for government and market normalization, and provide education and resources to help integrate virtual care into emerging value-based delivery models.
About ATA Action
ATA Action recognizes that telehealth and virtual care have the potential to transform the healthcare delivery system by improving patient outcomes, enhancing the safety and effectiveness of care, addressing health disparities, and reducing costs. ATA Action is a registered 501c6 entity and an affiliated trade organization of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA).
