Patient, Provider, Mental Health Advocates Support Legislation Lifting In-Person Requirement for Telemental Health Services

Medicare Requirement an Outlier, Congress Should Follow All 50 States and D.C. Bi-Partisan Legislation Sponsored by Sens. Cassidy, Smith, Cardin and Thune Improves Medicare Access to Mental Health Services

Washington, D.C. (June 15, 2021): The Health Innovation Alliance (HIA) joined by a group of 20 organizations including patient, provider and mental health advocates sent a letter of support for bi-partisan legislation sponsored by Sens. Cassidy (R-LA), Smith (D-MN), Cardin (D-MD), and Thune (R-ND) that will improve access for Medicare beneficiaries of mental health services by eliminating the 6-month requirement for in-person visits before being eligible for telehealth.

"It is critical the country maintains advances telehealth has achieved in providing access to mental health services during the pandemic," said Executive Director Joel White. "It is time for Congress to follow every state in the country and eliminate unnecessary in-person visit barriers for Medicare that undermine care for seniors, and the disabled."

This bill eliminates the in-person requirement that passed as part of "The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021" which included an expansion of telehealth services in Medicare for mental health, but also included a limitation that beneficiaries must have an in-person visit with their provider every 6 months.

Organizations signing the letter:

Health Innovation Alliance
American Telemedicine Association
STCHealth
CoverMyMeds
HIMSS
PCHAlliance
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
athenahealth
Alliance for Connected Care
eHealth Initiative
Doctor On Demand
Hims & Hers
Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness
GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer
Partnership to Advance Virtual Care
Teladoc Health
Centerstone
American Psychiatric Association
3M Health Information Systems
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
American Psychological Association

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