Rep. Ron Estes: Strengthening telehealth and rural health care in Kansas
As our country continues to heal from the coronavirus pandemic, I’m reminded daily of the strength and resilience of our community and nation. I’ve seen firsthand the incredible actions of health care professionals, business leaders and everyday Kansans to protect our neighbors and recover safely.
Even before COVID-19, a top priority for Kansans was health care. This is more prevalent now as our public health crisis has highlighted needed reforms for our health care system, especially rural hospitals and telehealth. I serve on the House Ways and Means Committee which has jurisdiction over many health care issues. During my time in Congress, I’ve worked toward solutions to give Kansans living in rural areas increased access to quality care and specialty services.
This year, Congress passed the CARES Act, making $180 billion in federal funding available specifically to support health care providers, which included money for rural and tribal hospitals and telehealth. To date, more than $452 million of that funding has been distributed to providers throughout Kansas. And just last week, President Trump amplified Congress’ actions by further expanding access to telehealth through an executive order. These are just the first steps toward removing barriers to care for rural Kansans.
I’m pleased that Congress took swift and decisive action to include telehealth provisions as we seek to provide relief for our nation. Video and phone consultations with medical professionals protect seniors and those with underlying health conditions while offering new and timely access to specialists for those living in areas that were previously underserved.
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, only 13,000 Medicare beneficiaries could participate in telehealth services at the beginning of this year. Since Congress instituted temporary reforms to allow more access, more than 9 million beneficiaries received telehealth consultations between March and June.
Our new challenge is ensuring that these provisions remain a permanent staple in American health care. My Ways and Means colleagues and I have already begun working toward common-sense legislation to make this a reality.
Previously, Medicare beneficiaries were only afforded access to telehealth services if they lived in a rural area and participated from a medical facility. We need to make permanent the option for patients to receive video and audio consultations from the safety and convenience of their homes.
Another practical change we can make is to allow Medicare beneficiaries to participate in audio-only appointments if they do not have the capabilities for video, providing that they maintain their previous relationship with the care provider.
Other reforms include allowing a broader range of practitioners to give care via telehealth, allowing Health Saving Account-eligible plans to cover these services, and allowing telehealth for home dialysis patients. All of this is possible given reasonable oversight and training from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other integrity safeguards.
Our rural hospitals do an excellent job of providing Kansans with critical care. Still, expanded telehealth can give their patients improved treatment options as well as access to specialists in urban areas. As our nation changes as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure our health care policies adapt and look toward the future.