The PAN Foundation encourages Congress to extend Medicare telehealth coverage

With the current Congress considering an omnibus spending bill as it nears the end of the year, the PAN Foundation encourages the extension of the pandemic-era telehealth rules allowing Medicare patients to access telehealth services more easily. The current rules, which allows Medicare beneficiaries to have virtual visits from their homes, are set to expire in April 2023—unless the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extends the public health emergency or Congress extends the rules.

Telehealth services are critical to increasing healthcare accessibility for all patients but is especially important for Medicare beneficiaries. In fact, an HHS study found a 63-fold increase in Medicare telehealth utilization during the pandemic. To end telehealth service rules for Medicare beneficiaries now could severely impact healthcare access for many, especially those in rural or underserved locations.

“We thank Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Representative Mike Thompson (D-California), and all the senators and representatives who recently signed onto their bipartisan letter to extend Medicare telehealth coverage,” said PAN Foundation Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Amy Niles. “We know that expansion of telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries during the pandemic increased accessibility for many. We urge Congress to extend these rules to help ensure everyone—particularly those in rural and underserved areas—continue to receive the healthcare they need and deserve.”

In addition to providing financial assistance to help cover out-of-pocket costs for underinsured people, PAN works alongside partners, coalitions, and patient advocates to build long-term policy solutions that improve healthcare access and affordability so that people can live the lives they deserve. Learn more about PAN’s advocacy efforts and position statements.

About the PAN Foundation 
The PAN Foundation is an independent, national 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to helping federally and commercially insured people living with life-threatening, chronic, and rare diseases with the out-of-pocket costs for their prescribed medications.  

Since 2004, we have provided more than 1 million underinsured patients with $4 billion in financial assistance. Partnering with generous donors, healthcare providers, and pharmacies, we provide the underinsured population access to the healthcare treatments they need to best manage their conditions and focus on improving their quality of life. Learn more at panfoundation.org.