On October 7, the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband held a hearing to discuss the future of telehealth and to examine how it has impacted access to health care, particularly to otherwise underserved populations. Throughout the hearing, both Senators and panelists discussed the importance of building a strong broadband infrastructure, noting the benefits of greater access to underserved populations. Also discussed was the topic of extending telehealth beyond the flexibilities provided under Medicare as a result of the pandemic.
Hearing
Two legislative proposals pertaining to telehealth were discussed in the hearing. First on the agenda was the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021 (S. 1512), which seeks to further telehealth access, create permanent COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities, improve health outcomes, and make it easier for patients to safely connect with their doctors. Secondly, the Temporary Reciprocity to Ensure Access to Treatment (TREAT) Act (H.R. 708) was discussed, which would temporarily authorize the interstate provision of in-person and telehealth services at least 180 days past the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Opening statements from Chair Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and Ranking Member John Thune (R-SD) expressed support for telehealth. Lujan acknowledged that relationships with health care changed over the course of COVID-19. He highlighted the expansion of telehealth, citing the United States Veteran Affairs offices increase in telehealth appointments. Thune expressed support for the CONNECT for Health Act. He also stated his support for extending broadband services and voiced a desire to see the majority of broadband funding go to rural communities to allow them to better participate in telehealth services.
Other speakers included Dr. Sterling N. Ransome, Jr., MF, FAAFP, President of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He voiced his support for several policies, including investing in efforts to ensure universal access to affordable broadband services for individuals and health care providers, investing in programs that provide end-user devices and digital literacy training and assistance to patients in need, and expanding and targeting federal telehealth programs to support small physician practices.
Additionally, Brendan Carr, Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) talked about the agency’s response to COVID-19, which included waiving certain telehealth rules and boosting funding for the Rural Health Care program. He commended Congress on their telehealth authorization in the CARES Act and stated that he looked forward to quickly finalizing awards of the remaining COVID-19 and Connected Care Program Funds.