Bill Overview
Title: Connecting Rural Telehealth to the Future Act
Description: This bill modifies requirements relating to coverage of telehealth services under Medicare. Specifically, the bill extends through 2024 certain flexibilities that were initially authorized during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19. Among other things, the bill allows (1) rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner), (2) the home of a beneficiary to serve as the originating site (i.e., the location of the beneficiary) for all services (rather than for only certain services), and (3) other types of practitioners to furnish telehealth services.
Sponsors: Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]
Target Audience
Population: People dependent on rural telehealth services under Medicare
Estimated Size: 6000000
- The bill impacts individuals who rely on Medicare for their health care coverage, specifically focusing on telehealth services.
- It aims to support residents of rural areas, where access to health services is typically limited.
- As telehealth services are a global trend, this can affect telehealth service providers by changing the market and access routes.
- By allowing home services as originating sites, individuals preferring or needing home health care services will also be impacted.
Reasoning
- To simulate the impact of the Connecting Rural Telehealth to the Future Act, we must consider individuals in rural areas who are currently utilizing or could benefit from telehealth services under Medicare. This includes elderly individuals, those with chronic conditions, and others who may find it challenging to travel to healthcare facilities.
- In terms of budget and program limits, we must derive a plausible impact from the funding cap provided. The estimated population directly benefiting is 6 million people, so the budget would allow for a meaningful, but not excessive, upgrade of services, particularly focused on improving access and supporting health practitioners in rural clinics.
- The perspectives include people who may see improvement in ease of access, such as rural residents or those with mobility issues, as well as possible concerns from medical staff adapting to new telehealth processes and technologies.
Simulated Interviews
retired teacher (rural Kansas)
Age: 72 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Telehealth has been quite helpful, especially during the pandemic.
- I appreciate not having to travel long distances to see my doctor.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
retired farmer (rural Alabama)
Age: 85 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If I can have my check-ups from home, it would ease the burden on my family.
- Traveling to see a specialist is getting harder for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
semi-retired (rural Montana)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Telehealth has become a key part of my wellbeing management.
- Financially, it's more manageable for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
general practitioner (remote Maine)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy allows more flexibility in how I can treat my patients.
- It's going to make our clinic's services more efficient and accessible.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
telehealth specialist (urban California)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Expanding these services will likely increase demand and reach.
- I'm pleased to see more initiatives supporting telehealth expansion.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
retired engineer (suburban Ohio)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Telehealth has been convenient for coordinating care.
- This policy might reduce our logistical challenges.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
home caregiver and advocate (remote Texas)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The extension of the policy seems crucial to prevent setbacks.
- Home telehealth services are a lifeline for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
policy consultant (urban New York)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Telehealth is essential for innovative public health strategies.
- This policy helps solidify telehealth's role in healthcare.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
nurse practitioner (rural Colorado)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- By enhancing telehealth, we can provide more thorough care.
- This policy strengthens our service offerings.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
retired miner (rural New Mexico)
Age: 83 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about what will happen if this policy doesn't keep going.
- Telehealth has been crucial to managing my health lately.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 2: $1450000000 (Low: $1150000000, High: $1750000000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The sustainability of increased telehealth usage post-2024 will depend on continued technological advancements and user adaptation.
- The policy will require coordination between healthcare providers, telehealth platforms, and Medicare infrastructure.