Hinds Today

Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith has thrown her support behind a bipartisan bill aimed at safeguarding Medicare telehealth services beyond the looming December deadline. The legislation, known as the Telehealth Modernization Act (S.3967), seeks to make permanent the telehealth flexibilities introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which are currently set to expire at the end of 2024.

Highlighting the importance of ensuring continued access to telehealth services, especially for seniors in rural areas, Senator Hyde-Smith emphasized, "We really must get past short-term extensions and give seniors certainty that their access to telehealth services is protected, particularly those who live in rural areas like so many of them do in Mississippi."

In a recent statement, Senator Hyde-Smith stressed the urgency for action, stating, “As we look at what may be the most consequential year for telehealth policy to date, we cannot overstate the urgency for Congress and CMS to act on Medicare legislative and regulatory telehealth flexibilities. Our nation’s health care systems and providers need clarity.”

The bill, co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of senators including Tim Scott and Brian Schatz, has also garnered support from various organizations such as the American Telemedicine Association, National Association of Community Health Centers, and American Medical Association, among others.

Senator Hyde-Smith's advocacy for telehealth extends to her sponsorship of the CONNECT for Health Act, a comprehensive initiative aimed at expanding Medicare coverage for telehealth services and making COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities permanent.

With the future of Medicare telehealth services hanging in the balance, the push for legislative action to secure these vital healthcare options for millions of Americans remains a top priority for Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and her colleagues in Congress.