CONNECT For Health Act holds broad bipartisan support, most comprehensive legislation on telehealth in Congress; Current flexibilities set to expire September 30 without Congressional action

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined bipartisan group of 60 senators in reintroducing the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act. The CONNECT for Health Act will expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities permanent, improve health outcomes, and make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors. Current flexibilities are set to expire on September 30 unless Congress extends them.

“Telehealth is transforming the way Americans access health care, especially in rural communities like those in West Virginia. The flexibilities put in place during the pandemic proved how effective and efficient virtual care can be. This legislation ensures that patients can continue to receive timely, quality care no matter where they live,” Senator Capito said.

Telehealth provides essential access to care with nearly a quarter of Americans accessing telehealth in a month, according to the most recent available data.

The CONNECT for Health Act would:

  • Permanently remove all geographic restrictions on telehealth services and expand originating sites to the location of the patient, including homes;
  • Permanently allow health centers and rural health clinics to provide telehealth services;
  • Allow more eligible health care professionals to utilize telehealth services;
  • Remove unnecessary in-person visit requirement for telemental health services;
  • Allow for the waiver of telehealth restrictions during public health emergencies; and
  • Require more published data to learn more about how telehealth is being used, impacts of quality of care, and how it can be improved to support patients and health care providers.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:

The CONNECT for Health Act was first introduced in 2016 and is considered the most comprehensive legislation on telehealth in Congress. Since 2016, several provisions of the bill have been enacted into law or adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), including provisions to remove restrictions on telehealth services for mental health, stroke care, and home dialysis.

Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), and Troy Balderson (R-Ohio).

The CONNECT for Health Act has the support of more than 150 organizations, including: the American Medical Association, AARP, American Hospital Association, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Association of Rural Health Clinics, and American Telemedicine Association.

The full text of the bill is available here.