ATA: Telehealth provisions at stake in stalled physician payment bill

With an amendment inserted in the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act that likely will prevent its passage in the Senate, telehealth provisions also contained within the bill now are in limbo.

The bill passed the House earlier this month, but Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) had inserted an amendment that would push back penalties tied to the individual insurance mandate until 2019, assuring the bill would die on arrival in the Senate. Also in the bill are certain provisions that would apply telehealth to alternative payment methods, such as accountable care organizations, bundled payments and medical homes, starting in 2017.

“Now they come to the difficult issue of how to pay for $140 billion over 10 years. That’s holding things up,” said Gary Capistrant, senior director of public policy for the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), during the association’s monthly videocast.  

However, he predicts that “at some point this year” those provisions will get added into other legislation under consideration.

In the meantime, the ATA is putting pressure on Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to allow Medicare providers paid under alternative payment methods the flexibility to use telehealth. The association sent similar recommendations to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Marilynn Tavenner, specifically addressing the payment innovation that is the Pioneer ACOs.

“I think it’s time for Medicare to move forward. We tried to make that request three years ago when setting up ACOs. Now, with years of experience and many ACOs doing well, it’s time to do that,” said Jonathan D. Linkous, ATA CEO, during the webcast.