Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, both Republicans from Alabama, have reintroduced the bipartisan CONNECT for Health Act to expand telehealth coverage through Medicare. The legislation aims to make COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities permanent, allowing health centers and rural health clinics to continue providing telehealth services beyond September, when the current flexibilities are set to expire.
The bill would also expand the eligibility of healthcare workers who can use telehealth, remove in-person visit requirements for telehealth services, and call for a report on how telehealth services benefit different populations and how they can be improved. A bipartisan group of more than 60 senators are supporting the bill in the 119th Congress, with Senator Brian Schatz from Hawaii sponsoring the legislation.
The CONNECT for Health Act would also waive coverage restrictions during any public health emergency like COVID-19. The legislation is particularly important for rural areas in Alabama, where 43% of residents live in rural areas and 13% of rural counties lack behavioral healthcare providers. The Alabama Department of Mental Health received a grant in 2024 to expand telehealth services for mental health treatment in rural areas, and Britt’s office states that the CONNECT for Health Act would make it easier for patients to access telehealth services for mental health treatment.
Overall, the bill aims to improve access to quality healthcare for all Americans, regardless of their location, by leveraging telehealth services and ensuring that they reflect cutting-edge technologies developed in the United States.
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