Telehealth is popular because it’s convenient and often the best option for people living in “transit deserts” – rural and even urban areas without public or private transportation options, or places that have become healthcare deserts. It also helps caregivers and those with full-time jobs where taking off a day of work for an appointment is problematic.
However, for millions of disabled Americans, telehealth is not just a convenience – they rely on these services for doctors appointments, prescriptions, and other medical needs. Some patients do not have specialists for their disease located in their area, and for many patients, leaving home at all can be too risky to contemplate.
Lawmakers from both sides have called on the DEA to issue a two-year extension of the telemedicine benefits first put in place in 2020, and some have proposed legislation making the changes permanent. Although these bills are related to Medicare, they will affect telehealth access through private insurance indirectly, as private plans tend to follow Medicare when setting coverage.
Call your legislators in both chambers to act quickly on these bills and tell your friends and relatives in RED states to do so too! This BIPARTISAN issue may get swept away by the unelected robber-bros in DOGE.
INDIVISIBLE VENTURA 