Lawmakers have reintroduced a bipartisan bill to Congress that would make behavioral health provided by telehealth more accessible to Medicare enrollees.
Four sponsors reintroduced the Telehealth Access Act. The bill would eliminate the in-person testing requirement for receiving mental health services via telehealth. It would rescind a 2020 law that expanded access to telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries, but added a requirement that patients have an in-person visit within six months of starting telehealth services. This will bring mental health services in line with how addiction treatment is covered, according to a news release.
Proponents of telehealth access frequently criticize mandating in-person testing. A parallel law, the Ryan Haight Act, is the subject of intense debate because it mandates in-person medical care for controlled substances.
The coronavirus pandemic has led to an explosion in the use of telemedicine. Once a thorn in the side of most health systems, the pandemic has forced businesses and governments to offer services over the internet or not at all. As a result, telehealth visits for Medicare beneficiaries increased 62 times and 43 times in 2020 and 2021, respectively, compared to 2019, according to a federal report.
According to the report, 35% of behavioral health visits were conducted via telehealth in 2021, the highest among the specialties surveyed.
“We fought to expand access to telehealth during the pandemic, and the results have proven how important a tool it is for countless Americans, especially mental health services.” Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said in a statement.
He and other bill sponsors argued that telehealth is a lifeline for patients in rural areas and those who have difficulty accessing services.
Other bill sponsors include Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), and John Thune (D). Smith is a founding member of the Senate Mental Health Caucus, which was launched in October.
Addressing systemic problems in federal behavioral health regulation has become a key component of bipartisan victories in Congress. In November, the Senate Finance Committee approved the Better Mental Health Care, Lower Cost Drugs, and Expander Act.
One of the most significant behavioral health funding reforms also implemented an unusual set of gun controls through the bipartisan Safer Communities Act, passed in the wake of the Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde, Texas.
Behavioral health providers should expect further changes in 2024 and beyond. Both presidential candidates have made notable changes to regulations in response to the opioid overdose death epidemic. Industry leaders look forward to continued support for behavioral health.
Medicare is receiving increasing attention from new entrants and incumbents in the behavioral health field. Regulatory changes like this one may be supporting this movement. Brightside Health announced in October that it would expand to both Medicare and Medicaid. The move would double the number of potential patients.
“Medicare beneficiaries and providers have come to rely on telehealth to ensure older adults receive quality mental health care,” says virtual mental health startup Brightside・Health CEO Brad Kittredge said: “Among commercially insured individuals, telemedicine accounts for approximately 60% of all visits and has become the preferred method for people to receive mental health care. Making Access Permanent Among the Medicare Population It should be easy to do.”
TalkSpace, Inc. (NASDAQ: TALK), a pioneer in technology-focused virtual mental health services, specifically text therapy, announced this month that it will launch the service with Medicare and Medicare Advantage.