Coalition Backs Illinois Telehealth Bill Supporting Payment Parity

A coalition of more than 30 Illinois healthcare providers and groups is throwing its support behind a state bill that would, among other things, establish payment parity for telehealth services and eliminate geographic and facility restrictions on connected health delivery.

The Coalition to Protect Telehealth, which formed last year to lobby state lawmakers to permanently expand telehealth access and coverage beyond the coronavirus pandemic, recently issued a press release backing HB 3498, which is now before the state’s House of Representatives.

“Even as in-person visits have resumed, telehealth use has remained at a persistent and significant level, with strong indication from patients, healthcare providers and professionals that this flexibility to access care must be maintained permanently,” the release says.

Illinois is one of many states grappling with plans to redefine the telehealth landscape beyond the COVID-19 public health emergency. Some states have moved to make permanent emergency measures enacted during the PHE to expand telehealth access and coverage, while others are waiting for the federal government to establish its post-pandemic telehealth guidelines.

State Rep. Deb Conroy, who introduced HB 3498, wants Illinois in that first group.

“Over the last year, we’ve seen significant, rapid development in telehealth technology,” she said in the coalition’s press release. “Initially spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, both state and federal government enacted policy changes to make telehealth services easier to access and, as a result, healthcare providers, professionals and patients have seen that virtual care preserves quality and safety, while also accommodating patients’ individual needs.”

“Illinois should support this continued investment in telehealth and the important role it will play in modernizing healthcare delivery and empowering patients,” she added.

According to the coalition, the bill enables the state to set its own path for telehealth by ensuring the virtual care is held to the same standards and reimbursement rates as in-person care. It would also give providers “the professional latitude to determine the appropriateness of specific sites and technology platforms for telehealth services, while upholding federal and state privacy laws.”

The group further argues that telehealth can help the state address other gaps in care, including social and societal concerns that hinder access for underserved populations.

“Stakeholders underscored that telehealth should also be embraced as a key strategy to address social determinants of health that can act as barriers to accessing in-person care,” the coalition said in the press release. “Access barriers that exacerbate healthcare disparities such as transportation, lost income, missed work and school, or the stigma of seeking help, are greatly reduced or eliminated when telehealth is used. Patients are empowered to address care needs swiftly, preventing conditions from worsening and requiring unnecessary visits to urgent care or a hospital.”