Congress lines up to support permanent changes to telehealth rules

Under a new bill introduced by a bipartisan group of 60 senators, the changes implemented in telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, which proved beneficial for physicians and patients, could become permanent. The Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2023 aims to address the urgency caused by the expiration of pandemic-related telehealth provisions. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz highlighted the importance of keeping pace with the growing telehealth usage and ensuring access to care for individuals across the country. Concurrently, site-neutral payment for medical services has gained support from leading physician groups, prompting discussions among federal policy makers.