Rep. Mike Kelly, U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 16th District | Official U.S. House headshot
Rep. Mike Kelly, U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 16th District | Official U.S. House headshot
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) took a stand for telehealth during a recent hearing held by the Ways & Means Committee. The hearing focused on examining opportunities and challenges in enhancing access to care in patients’ homes and modernizing care in rural and underserved communities.
During the hearing, Rep. Kelly voiced his support for the Telehealth Extension Act, a bipartisan bill he co-led that aims to ensure permanent access to telehealth for patients nationwide. He emphasized the importance of removing barriers to healthcare and technology to help patients access the care they need, regardless of where they live.
Rep. Kelly stated, "For too many people across rural Western Pennsylvania, accessing high-speed internet can be a challenge. That means accessing telehealth care can be a challenge as well." He highlighted the significance of addressing these challenges and ensuring that geographic and site restrictions do not hinder individuals from receiving approved telehealth services.
The Telehealth Extension Act, first introduced by Rep. Kelly in 2021, proposes various measures to support telehealth adoption and access. Among its provisions are the permanent lifting of geographic and site-based restrictions for Medicare beneficiaries, support for telehealth services in underserved communities, and a temporary extension of COVID-19 emergency telehealth waivers.
Additionally, the bill aims to promote program integrity by implementing guardrails for certain telehealth services susceptible to fraud while maintaining patient access to care. It also seeks to enhance disaster preparedness by granting CMS broad authority to authorize telehealth flexibilities during future emergencies.
The Telehealth Extension Act stands as a crucial piece of legislation in the ongoing efforts to expand telehealth services and improve access to care for individuals across the country. Rep. Kelly's advocacy for this bill underscores the importance of leveraging technology to overcome healthcare challenges and ensure quality care for all individuals, irrespective of their location.
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