Second House Committee Approves Legislation to Extend Telehealth Waivers
Committee also passes other legislation important to occupational therapy
The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted on September 18 to extend waivers that have allowed occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) along with PTs, SLPs and audiologists to provide services via telehealth under Medicare through December 31, 2026. This legislation is a 2-year version of the Telehealth Modernization Act which was originally introduced to address telehealth policy on a permanent basis and also extends other important telehealth waivers that are essential to the provision of services via telehealth by all healthcare providers. The House Ways and Means Committee has already passed similar legislation, and the policy must still be approved by the full House of Representatives and Senate where the Finance Committee has already held numerous hearings on telehealth policy.
The committee also passed other important legislation that will help to promote better access to occupational therapy and other services including the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act (HR 7218), the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act (H.R. 4758), the Autism CARES Act (H.R. 7213), and the reauthorization of the Lifespan Respite Care Act (H.R. 6160).