WASHINGTON, DC, JULY 14, 2023 — The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and ATA Action issued the following statement, in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) CY2024 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed policy changes for Medicare payments under the PFS, and other Medicare Part B issues.
“We are encouraged to see that the proposed policy changes in the Physician Fee Schedule continue to reflect the Biden Administration’s strong support of telehealth and clearly indicate CMS’ continued interest in providing access to telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries, acknowledging that both audiovisual and audio-only telehealth services ‘have enabled individuals in rural and underserved areas to have improved access to care,’” said Kyle Zebley, senior vice president, public policy, the ATA, and executive director, ATA Action. “At first glance, the proposed policies would extend many of the telehealth flexibilities enacted during the public health emergency until the end of 2024, aligning with the policies extended in the omnibus by Congress at the end of 2022.
“In the coming weeks, we will listen to our members and the telehealth community at large and submit specific comments and detailed feedback to ensure that the final PFS allows everyone to have access to safe, affordable and appropriate care when and where they need it, especially our rural communities and underserved patient populations,” Zebley added. “We look forward to working closely with CMS, and our friends and allies in Congress, to address any lingering concerns and include every opportunity to support more equitable healthcare and improve patient access to medically necessary virtual care in the final PFS rule.”
About ATA Action
ATA Action recognizes that telehealth and virtual care have the potential to transform the healthcare delivery system by improving patient outcomes, enhancing the safety and effectiveness of care, addressing health disparities, and reducing costs. ATA Action is a registered 501c6 company and an affiliated trade organization of the ATA.
About the ATA
As the only organization completely focused on advancing telehealth, the American Telemedicine Association is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and appropriate care when and where they need it, enabling the system to do more good for more people. The ATA represents a broad and inclusive member network of leading healthcare delivery systems, academic institutions, technology solution providers and payers, as well as partner organizations and alliances, working to advance industry adoption of telehealth, promote responsible policy, advocate for government and market normalization, and provide education and resources to help integrate virtual care into emerging value-based delivery models.