Congress Must Act to Protect Seniors’ Access to Telehealth

For Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, access to telehealth has offered flexibility and increased access to care. In recent years, the care landscape has evolved greatly with telehealth emerging as a vital tool for patients. Telehealth benefits many Americans by breaking down barriers to care, expanding access for rural and underserved communities, and helping seniors receive care services from the convenience and comfort of their homes.

But without Congressional action, these critical telehealth flexibilities will soon expire. That’s why APTQI strongly supports the Telehealth Modernization Act (S. 2709/H.R. 5081), a recently introduced bipartisan bill to extend Medicare’s telehealth policies through 2027. By passing this bill, Congress can ensure continuity of care for Medicare beneficiaries and give providers the certainty they need to continue reaching patients throughout their care plan.

APTQI applauds Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tom Tillis (R-NC), and Angus King (I-ME) in the Senate and Representatives Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA-01) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) in the House for introducing this legislation.

As advocates for patient access to physical therapy, APTQI members see firsthand how telehealth empowers our aging population to more easily follow their care plan, recover from injuries, and maintain their independence. APTQI is urging Congress to swiftly pass the Telehealth Modernization Act and safeguard access to care for millions of Medicare patients.

Telehealth has proven its value. Now it’s time for lawmakers to ensure it remains a reliable option for those who need it most.

To read more about the bill, click here.