The recently reintroduced bipartisan Expanded Telehealth Access Act seeks to provide permanent Medicare coverage for care provided by PTs, OTs, and SLPs via telehealth. The bipartisan bill contains the same legislative language as last year.

As you may well know, the Public Health Emergency ended on May 11, 2023. However, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 extended telehealth waivers for Medicare beneficiaries through the end of 2024 (which now means you and/or your clinic can provide telehealth only temporarily). PT’s, OT’s and SP’s need to make telehealth a permanent option in providing care and access to patients who need therapy services virtually. Patients that would benefit include seniors, those with mobility issues, patients with limited time available, and the list can go on. As a side note, telehealth services may help you or your clinic retain clinical staff that want a remote, or semi-remote, work environment. Technology is changing healthcare and we need to have a forward-thinking place in its say and use. It is better to have a say then be relegated to the sidelines to have others control what technology you can or cannot use.

Please ask your Representative to cosponsor the Expanded Telehealth Access Act (H.R.3875) which would add PTs, PTAs, OTs, OTAs and SLPs to the list of medical providers who are authorized to provide care to Medicare beneficiaries via telehealth.

Tell your representative how the permanence of coverage for telehealth would enable you to invest in the necessary tools for your practice and improve access to care for patients (their constituents).

If we stand together as therapists, it can make a difference.

I had some people who asked, “How do I get the information on who my Representative is?”. Please go to the following link and put in your Zip code.
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative