Press Release
Posted:
Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) applauded the Preserving Telehealth, Hospital, and Ambulance Access Act’s (H.R. 8261) passage by the Ways and Means committee. Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-01) introduced the legislation this week, with Rep. Thompson serving as the Democratic lead and co-sponsor. The bill will extend Medicare patients’ access to telehealth services through 2026.
“Since my days in the State Senate, I’ve been a big believer in telehealth’s ability to save money, time, and lives,” said Rep. Thompson. “Telehealth allows Medicare beneficiaries—especially those with low mobility or who otherwise can’t make it to the doctor’s office—to access the care they need when they need it. Protecting seniors’ access to telehealth’s vital services just makes sense. I look forward to working with my co-lead, Rep. Schweikert, to bring this to the floor for a vote.”
“Embracing telehealth is one of the most moral actions we can take to expand patient access to health care providers, which will in turn make our brothers and sisters healthier while reducing overall costs,” said Rep. Schweikert. “This bipartisan bill ensures that patients can continue to meet virtually with their providers and receive the quality care they deserve to make informed decisions about their health. I’m pleased to see the Ways and Means Committee pass this legislation, and I look forward to working with Rep. Thompson to pass this bill through the House.”
“The ATA and ATA Action applaud Representatives Schweikert and Thompson for leading the Preserving Telehealth, Hospital, and Ambulance Access Act which would extend many of the Medicare telehealth flexibilities for two years or through CY2026,” said Kyle Zebley, Senior Vice President, Public Policy, American Telemedicine Association and Executive Director, ATA Action. “We are supportive of this extension that would ensure millions of Medicare beneficiaries do not lose access to critical, lifesaving care at the end of this calendar year. We are thrilled the House Ways and Means Committee advanced this legislation today on a bipartisan basis and hope Congress will continue to move this legislation forward sooner rather than later this year to provide certainty for patients and providers across the country.”
Rep. Thompson is the founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Telehealth Caucus. Rep. Thompson has worked to expand telehealth access since his time serving in the California State Senate, where he led California’s passage of the first state telehealth access bill. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Rep. Thompson led bipartisan, bicameral legislation that immediately allowed seniors on Medicare to receive telehealth services for the duration of the public health emergency.
Rep. Thompson also sponsored the legislation that expanded access to telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries through 2024 that was included in the omnibus package that passed in December 2022.
The Telehealth, Hospital, and Ambulance Access Act would extend access to telehealth services for two more years—ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries can continue to receive essential care.
• Telehealth utilization surged in 2020 when CMS waived many statutory restrictions on telehealth to ensure continued access to health care during the national 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 at the end of 2024, 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.
• Extending Medicare’s coverage of telehealth services is critical to protecting access to care and fully integrating telehealth into care delivery.