The news: The COVID-19 flexibilities that provided doctor reimbursement for virtual care expired on September 30. A federal government shutdown, slated for October 1, means that Medicare payments to healthcare providers for most telehealth visits will stop, pending a separate extension.
How we got here: Before the pandemic, Medicare covered telehealth only for rural residents and a limited range of medical services. Many of those restrictions were waived in March 2020, improving access to telehealth for seniors. Congress has passed multiple temporary extensions to keep the pandemic-era flexibilities in place, but the most recent one expired at the end of September.
Why it matters: Medical clinics and health systems could choose to stop providing telehealth services to seniors if they’re not getting reimbursed for them.
Even if only a few weeks pass before the next extension, lots of elderly patients who rely on telehealth due to transportation or other barriers could miss important check-ups.
Our take: Marketers working with providers that deliver telehealth to Medicare members must keep their patients up to speed with how their care might be affected. They’ll also want to provide ample guidance on how to avoid significant care disruptions.