Washington, D.C. – Last week, Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04) co-sponsored the Expanded Telehealth Access Act, bipartisan legislation to expand the list of the practitioners eligible for Medicare reimbursement for providing care via telehealth services. 

“As we learned during the pandemic, telehealth services are essential, especially for Utahns living in rural communities,” said Rep. Owens. “I am proud to support the Expanded Telehealth Access Act because it removes barriers for patients and providers, modernizes our health care system, and delivers accessible, timely, and reliable telehealth services for even more Utahns.” 

To reduce risks associated with visiting medical providers during the coronavirus pandemic, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expanded the types of health care providers who receive reimbursement for telehealth services. This legislation makes permanent the reimbursement eligibility for physical therapists, audiologists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists and permits the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expand this list.

The full text of the legislation is available here.

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