Bill Proposes Permanent Telehealth, Congress Sidesteps Medicare Cuts
A new bill will build on CARES act programs and expand telehealth access, Congress voted to avoid Medicare payment cuts, and open enrollment saw 4.6 million members register for care.
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By - Legislation introduced by a group of bipartisan representatives intends to expand telehealth access to Medicare beneficiaries regardless of geography. Additionally, both chambers of Congress passed a bill that will avoid a Medicare payment cut for 2022.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health & Human Services has added a way for patients to report the quality of maternal healthcare online via the CMS’ Care Compare website. HHS also announced that 4.6 million Americans had registered on the ACA marketplace during this year’s open enrollment period.
And in a promising step, the FDA approved a new drug for ovarian cancer that can identify lesions that would not have been visible otherwise.
Bill Introduced that Would Ensure Permanent Telehealth Access
A new proposal would build on portions of the CARES Act that allowed Americans to access telehealth services without meeting their deductible. The bill, coined “The Telehealth Extension Act,” was introduced by a bipartisan subcommittee in November and it seeks to expand the availability of telehealth services in a permanent way.
One backer of the bill, Rep. Michelle Steel emphasized the importance of telehealth services in a press release: “Telehealth has been life-changing for so many, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, increased access to telehealth has benefited a wide range of Americans, from seniors to high-risk patients, to those in rural areas. Congress must act to ensure that the millions of Americans to who have utilized this provision do not lose their access to telemedicine.” READ MORE.
FDA Approves New Imaging Drug for Ovarian Cancer
The FDA has approved the use of Cytalux, an imaging drug that will help doctors locate cancerous lesions during surgery. The drug takes advantage of cancer’s mechanisms and illuminates tissue when exposed to fluorescent light. In clinical trials, the drug was able to expose cancerous lesions in 27 percent of patients where standard inspections found no cancer. READ MORE.
Medicare Payment Cuts Stopped in Congress
Last Thursday, the Senate passed legislation that prevented a Medicare payment cut. The bill has now cleared both chambers of Congress and is headed to the President’s desk to become law. This continuation of expanded funding will support the American healthcare industry that has struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Potential reductions in Medicare payments for physician services hung over the heads of patients and practices like a sword of Damocles. The Senate action today, following a similar House vote this week, would delay the reductions and give Congress time to work on reforms to address the flaws in the Medicare payment system,” said Gerald E. Harmon, MD, and president of the American Medical Association. READ MORE.
Open Enrollment Sees 4.6M Enrollees
The Department of Health & Human Services announced that 4.6 million people have signed up for healthcare coverage since the start of the ACA open enrollment period. Additionally, 800,000 of this year's enrollees were joining the marketplace for the first time. The open enrollment period is set to end on December 15th and consumers will start receiving coverage on January 1st of 2022. READ MORE.
HHS Adds Maternal Health Outcomes to Website
The Department of Health & Human Services has added a maternal health services section to the CMS Care Compare website. This addition gives patients the ability to publicly identify “birthing-friendly” hospitals and it will advance health equity. CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure remarked on the importance of the new service saying, “Across the Biden-Harris Administration, we are committed to advancing equitable, high-quality maternity care, and reducing unnecessary postpartum illnesses and deaths that disproportionately harm people of color.” READ MORE.
