SE Kansas News

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran has joined a bipartisan coalition of 60 senators to reintroduce the CONNECT for Health Act. This legislation aims to enhance telehealth services covered by Medicare, solidifying measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic and boosting healthcare accessibility. The current privileges tied to COVID-19 are set to lapse on September 30 unless further action is taken by Congress.

Senator Moran emphasized the impact of the pandemic, saying, "The COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in our healthcare infrastructure while also demonstrating how telehealth can be an effective way to provide care to patients." He further highlighted the importance of the bill for rural communities in Kansas, noting, "This legislation would expand telehealth services and help make certain that Kansans, especially those in rural communities, continue to have access to the health care services they need."

The CREATE Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies, known as the CONNECT for Health Act, has previously introduced legislative milestones dating back to 2016. Many of its proposed measures have been incorporated into law or embraced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, particularly those eliminating barriers in areas such as mental health, stroke care, and home dialysis.

Co-sponsors of the current bill include Senators, such as Roger Wicker, Brian Schatz, and Cindy Hyde-Smith, among others, representing a broad political spectrum. Nearly a quarter of the American population is reported to have accessed telehealth services monthly, underscoring the pivotal role telehealth plays in modern healthcare access.

Provisions within the bill include the permanent removal of geographic limitations on telehealth services, expanding telehealth sites to patient homes, allowing a broader range of healthcare professionals to provide telehealth services, and lifting in-person requirements for mental health services. The legislation also proposes allowing the waiver of telehealth restrictions during public health emergencies and calls for more data to improve telehealth's quality and application.

Parallel legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. David Schweikert, Troy Balderson, Mike Thompson, and Doris Matsui. The act enjoys substantial backing from over 150 organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Telemedicine Association.