Senate Introduces Bill to Boost Telehealth

We share this update from Politico Pulse to keep our members informed of congressional efforts to expand telehealth access in Medicaid. Access to telehealth is important for people with disabilities because it increases the comfort of the person being supported, cuts down on the travel time for people and providers in rural areas, and increases the ability to screen people in advance, leading to fewer emergency room visits. Telehealth is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic as social distancing keeps both staff and the people they serve safe.

“Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and John Cornyn (R-Tex.) on Tuesday introduced legislation aimed at expanding telehealth access for low-income children.

The Telehealth Improvement for Kids’ Essential Services Act of 2021 would lay out strategies for states to implement more telehealth options and research how to boost access for enrollees in Medicaid and CHIP, the children’s insurance program.

‘Telehealth services have allowed many Americans to receive timely, safe medical care from the comfort of their homes during this pandemic, but not all patients have had adequate access to this form of care,’ Carper said in a statement.”