MGMA urges House to support patient access to telehealth (April 10, 2024)

April 10, 2024 
 

Re: MGMA Statement for the Record — House Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearing, “Legislative Proposals to Support Patient Access to Telehealth Services”

Dear Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member Eshoo:

The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) thanks you for holding this important hearing examining legislative proposals to support patient access to telehealth services. The expansion of telehealth services over the past few years has provided a vital lifeline to patients across the nation. Permanently instituting many of the telehealth policies currently in place in a comprehensive fashion would help allow for appropriate access and continuity of care for patients no matter where they may be located.

With a membership of more than 60,000 medical practice administrators, executives, and leaders, MGMA represents more than 15,000 group medical practices ranging from small private medical practices to large national health systems, representing more than 350,000 physicians. MGMA’s diverse membership uniquely situates us to offer the following policy recommendations.

Maintaining access to telehealth services is essential to avoid instituting unnecessary barriers to medical care such as traveling significant distances. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented numerous temporary telehealth polices in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). Prior to these policies, telehealth services in Medicare were rarely used given geographic, originating site, and other restrictions. This expansion has been a clear success and allowed medical groups to continue serving their communities through the appropriate utilization of telehealth services.

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