Telehealth Modernization Act

On September 18, the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 41-0 to pass H.R. 7623, the Telehealth Modernization Act. This bipartisan legislation would extend through 2026 certain flexibilities authorized during the public health emergency related to COVID-19, including the opportunity to use telehealth to conduct the required face-to-face (F2F) encounter under the Medicare hospice benefit. It also would allow rural health clinics and federal qualified health centers to serve as the distant site, the home of a beneficiary to serve as a distant site for all services, and all types of practitioners to furnish telehealth services, as determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

HPNA’s advocacy team will continue to work with its coalition partners and congressional champions throughout the coming months to ensure that these extensions are included in an end-of-year legislative package.

For additional resources on telehealth developments and advancements, visit the Health Resources and Services Administration’s website.