Lawmakers Push for Permanent Telehealth Services

February 10, 2021 by Alec Stone MA, MPA, Former ONS Director of Government Affairs and Advocacy

In a rare moment of bicameral success, 49 U.S. House of Representatives and Senate members introduced legislation (https://www.schatz.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Bicam%20EOY%20Telehealth%20Letter_12.4.20.pdf) to make permanent the Medicare telehealth coverage that had been introduced as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) led the bipartisan group in introducing the bill (https://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-leads-bipartisan-group-in-introducing-new-legislation-to-expand-telehealth-services-improve-health-outcomes-and-cut-costs), which would:

“We continue to hear from our constituents and healthcare providers that the uncertainty about the long-term future of Medicare telehealth coverage is a barrier to organizations investing fully in telehealth,” the lawmakers wrote (https://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-leads-bipartisan-bicameral-group-of-49-lawmakers-in-calling-for-permanent-expansion-of-telehealth-coverage-in-end-of-year-legislation) in their letter to Senate and House leaders. “Congress needs to act now to better serve patients and healthcare providers during the pandemic and to ensure that telehealth remains an option after the pandemic is over.”

As ONS finalizes its legislative agenda for 2021, telehealth will remain a key issue. Oncology nurses are crucial to advocating (https://voice.ons.org/advocacy/get-involved-in-onss-health-policy-advocacy) for patients and laws that will eliminate disparities to cancer care.


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