American Medical Association Announces New Policy on Telehealth

The American Medical Association has adopted a new policy on telehealth.

The organization concluded its five-day virtual meeting this week with a nod to a recent survey from the COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition that found almost 70 percent of healthcare providers are motivated by their work during the COVID-19 crisis to use more connected health tools in the future. Its new policy is aimed at pressuring state and federal officials – including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – to improve coverage, access and payment policies.

The policy states that the AMA:

• “Continue to advocate for the widespread adoption of telehealth services in the practice of medicine for physicians and physician-led teams” after the pandemic;
• Advocate that the federal and state governments and agencies and the payer industry “adopt clear and uniform laws, rules, regulations, and policies relating to telehealth services that provide equitable coverage that allows patients to access telehealth services wherever they are located (and) provide for the use of accessible devices and technologies, with appropriate privacy and security protections, for connecting physicians and patients;”
• “Advocate for equitable access to telehealth services, especially for at-risk and under-resourced patient populations and communities, including but not limited to supporting increased funding and planning for telehealth infrastructure such as broadband and internet-connected devices for both physician practices and patients;” and
• “Support the use of telehealth to reduce health disparities and promote access to health care.”

The organization’s support is vital to telehealth advocates working to ensure telehealth momentum continues past the coronavirus pandemic. CMS has proposed a number of changes to telehealth and remote patient monitoring coverage in its 2021 physician fee schedule, but hasn’t yet come out with a final document. And Congress is faced with dozens of bills aimed at making permanent many of the emergency COVID-19 measures aimed at improving telehealth access and coverage.