Bill Overview
Title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand eligible practitioners to furnish telehealth services.
Description: This bill permanently allows occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists to provide telehealth services under Medicare.
Sponsors: Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16]
Target Audience
Population: Medicare beneficiaries who may need services from expanded telehealth practitioners
Estimated Size: 63500000
- This bill directly impacts Medicare beneficiaries, who are typically individuals aged 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities.
- Occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists will be affected as they can now offer services via telehealth, potentially increasing their client base and reducing geographic barriers to their services.
- The expansion of telehealth services aligns with larger trends towards digital healthcare solutions, which can increase access to care for individuals in rural or underserved areas.
- Studies have shown that there are about 63 million Medicare beneficiaries in the United States.
Reasoning
- The policy benefits mainly Medicare recipients, which includes mainly seniors aged 65 and above, as well as some younger individuals with disabilities.
- Healthcare providers like occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists can expand their reach through telehealth, which may also impact their income and job satisfaction.
- The policy's impact may vary by region, as individuals in rural or isolated areas might see greater benefits from improved access to healthcare services.
- Not everyone will be equally impacted; some individuals may not require these services at all, while others could see a marked improvement in convenience and health outcomes.
Simulated Interviews
retired (rural Kentucky)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I can't drive long distances to see my physical therapist, so having telehealth is a great option for me.
- With this policy, I can maintain my therapy routine without worrying about travel.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
retired school teacher (suburban Florida)
Age: 82 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Telehealth can be difficult for me because I'm not very tech-savvy, but I do see the potential benefits.
- I have an audiologist I trust, and it's nice to know I won't have to always travel to see them.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
retired librarian (urban California)
Age: 66 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I love the idea of telehealth; it saves time but still gets me the care I need.
- It's more convenient than dealing with city traffic and commuting for appointments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
farmer (rural Montana)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new policy means I don't have to travel hours to get to a specialist, which is incredibly valuable living out here.
- This will help me manage my condition better without the stress of long travel times.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
speech-language pathologist (New York City)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy can help expand my practice and reach more patients who otherwise wouldn't access care.
- Telehealth is an essential service, and this makes it more accessible to those who need it.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
retired engineer (suburban Texas)
Age: 75 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having my physical therapy sessions via telehealth means I don't have to miss them because of transportation issues.
- It can actually save money on transport back and forth as well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
retired nurse (urban Illinois)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Telehealth has been a big part of my care; it's only positive that more services will be available this way.
- When you can't easily move around, this is a lifeline.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
retired (rural West Virginia)
Age: 77 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm thankful for this policy; even a small town like mine can now feel connected.
- I wouldn't have seen a therapist as often without this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
retired mechanic (urban Michigan)
Age: 78 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Since I do most of my doctor visits online now, this policy is very much in line with how I manage my health these days.
- I never thought I'd prefer online, but it's remarkably convenient.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
retired teacher (suburban New Jersey)
Age: 73 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy means a lot of freedom for me since I'm less mobile these days.
- I can access therapy more regularly from the comfort of my home.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000000 (Low: $1300000000, High: $1700000000)
Year 2: $1600000000 (Low: $1400000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 3: $1700000000 (Low: $1500000000, High: $1900000000)
Year 5: $1900000000 (Low: $1700000000, High: $2100000000)
Year 10: $2200000000 (Low: $2000000000, High: $2400000000)
Year 100: $3000000000 (Low: $2700000000, High: $3300000000)
Key Considerations
- Telehealth can expand access to care, especially in rural areas where physical access is a barrier.
- The increased utilization of telehealth might require additional monitoring to ensure quality and avoid unnecessary use.
- The infrastructure costs might vary significantly depending on existing systems and technology adoption.