Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has sent a letter, along with a bipartisan group of House and Senate colleagues, to House and Senate leadership requesting that Congress permanently waive or remove the geographic restrictions on originating sites so that a Medicare beneficiary’s ability to receive telehealth services is no longer based on where they live. Additionally, the letter requests that Congress permanently authorize Federally Qualified Heath Centers and Rural Health Clinics to provide distant site telehealth services and allow patients to utilize telehealth inside of their homes.
Congresswoman Stefanik is a cosponsor of the CONNECT for Health Act, legislation that expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare. This letter is urging for similar provisions and changes for telehealth services to Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics.
“Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, our providers and patients have faced numerous challenges,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “I have been a consistent advocate for our Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, and telehealth providers, who have been instrumental in addressing the needs of our rural communities and are an essential component of the North Country healthcare landscape. I have fought to deliver critical funding to our hospitals and rural health centers to ensure that they have the resources necessary to continue providing care. In sending this letter to leadership, I am once again urging a permanent expansion of telehealth coverage, which has proven to be an effective method of treating patients, especially in our more rural and isolated areas. I look forward to working with my colleagues and leadership to make this fix and ensure that patients are receiving the best care possible.”
