From unprecedented Congressional and regulatory action on telehealth reimbursement to the release of final interoperability and information blocking rules, 2020 was a busy year for health technology professionals – and 2021 shows no signs of slowing down. eHI staff and Policy Steering Committee members discussed the latest in health technology policy, eHI’s advocacy work, and a look ahead to the 117th Congress. This event also includes interviews with special guests Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester and Congressman Michael Burgess.

Key Takeaways

• Many healthcare institutions saw a large spike in the utilization of telehealth services beginning in March 2020.
• While the current administration has provided waivers and flexibilities surrounding telehealth reimbursement, many of these will end as soon as the public health emergency (PHE) period ends.
• Regulatory priorities should be surrounding areas such as reimbursement, licensure, broadband equity, and DEA prescribing issues.
• Although telehealth has been an instrumental tool in providing greater access to care, some on Capitol Hill and in the administration still cite significant concerns about telehealth costs/utilization as well as fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Behavioral health is another area where telehealth proved to be beneficial. The demand for telebehavioral health services is still high; however, workforce shortage issues, which were a problem before the pandemic, have continued. 

Speakers and moderators included:

• Peter Antall, MD, President and Chief Medical Officer, Amwell
• Colby Tiner, Policy Analyst, Policy Research and Translation, American Heart Association
• Virginia Whitman, Public Policy Associate, Alliance of Community Health Plans
• Brad Wolters, Director, Federal Government Relations, Marshfield Clinic Health System
• JP Paluskiewicz, House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee
• Orriel Richardson, House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee
• Jay Gulshen, House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee
• Maddie Davidson, Senate Finance Committee
• Aliza Silver, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
• Lauren Conaboy, Vice President of National Policy, Centerstone