Report details future of telehealth after COVID-19

Congress and the Biden administration should extend most telehealth flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries for another two years after the public health emergency ends to allow studies to continue on telehealth’s impact on access, cost, quality and outcomes, a report said. Released this month by the Bipartisan Policy Center, the report also recommends Congress repeal in-person visit requirements for tele-mental health services given the effectiveness of these services and the shortages of behavioral health providers. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) should require an in-person exam for most patients before providers are allowed to prescribe opiate pain medications. The report recommends CMS limit audio-only visits to established patient-provider relationships and limit audio-only specialty services to those who either live in rural America or lack broadband access or the necessary devices for video visits. Lead author Julia Harris published a commentary about the report.