Healthcare IT News June 16, 2021
The bipartisan bill would eliminate a mandate for Medicare patients to be seen in person before receiving virtual behavioral care.
A bipartisan group of senators this week introduced the Telemental Healthcare Access Act of 2021, geared toward reducing hurdles to providing virtual behavioral health services.
The bill, introduced by Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Ben Cardin, D-Md., and John Thune, R-S.D., would remove the statutory requirement that Medicare beneficiaries be seen in person within six months of receiving mental health services through telehealth.
“Over the pandemic, we’ve seen an increased need for telehealth services, whether it’s for substance use disorders, physical ailments or mental health issues,” said Cassidy in a statement.
“Medicare patients deserve direct access to...
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