More than 28 million Medicare beneficiaries used telemedicine services during the first year of the pandemic. This rapid adoption is due in part to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), who implemented policies allowing for greater flexibility when providing telemedicine services during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Maintaining and ensuring permanence for these policies is a top priority for the ACR, as telehealth is an important tool for our members and their patients’ access to care.

The ACR applauds Congress for passing a two-year telehealth extension earlier this year. We will continue to support any telemedicine legislation that:  

• Codifies telemedicine flexibilities implemented under the COVID-19 public health emergency.  
• Continues parity of reimbursement for in-office visits and audio-visual visits from CMS.  
• Mitigates regulatory barriers to practicing interstate telemedicine.

Ask your lawmakers to act to act to make telehealth flexibilities permanent and preserve patient access to this crucial resource! 

The ACR’s Legislative Action Center will allow you to contact your members of Congress with just a few clicks. Take a moment to send your letter today!