How Age Pros can serve clients in a time of uncertainty.
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We’ve all read the news. As part of the current administration’s ongoing budget agenda, many federal programs face significant funding cuts. Included are proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid that would, among other things, end coverage for many Telehealth services.
The budget deal reached by Congress and the White House on March 15th paused the immediate threat. Medicare Telehealth coverage has been extended to September 30, 2025. That’s welcome news for millions of patients, their families, caregivers and eldercare professionals — people who have come to rely on the proven benefits of telehealth.
Still, the recent budget deal did include changes to coverage. In general, these effect where telehealth services can be accessed, as well as mental health offerings.
Regardless of your feelings about the politics driving proposed cuts, it’s incumbent on AgePros to understand changes to Medicare telehealth coverage. It’s knowledge you’ll use to better serve present and future elder care clients, as well as demonstrate your expertise.
Here’s a link to specific changes in coverage between now and September 30th .
“It’s probably the only good thing that came out of COVID, in terms of improving access…”
— Nicholas Widmyer, Director of Federal Affairs, National Association of Community Health Centers.
Some interesting telehealth metrics according to an AARP article by Susan Milligan:
- Nearly 75% of adults 50 and over say they’ve used telehealth in the past year.
- 90% say they were somewhat or very satisfied with the experience.
Be assured, this wasn’t always the case. In fact, in the first quarter of 2020, immediately prior to COVID, less than 7% of Medicare patients had used telehealth.
In just three months, usage leapt to nearly 47%. At the close of 2023, usage had dropped back to 13% of Medicare patients. But keep in mind, that’s still double pre-pandemic usage. Over 8 million Medicare enrollees currently rely on telehealth for some aspect of their health care. And there’s a good chance they are, or will be, among your elder care clients.
Here’s another milestone marking telehealth’s acceptance: Today, Medicare reimbursements for in-office and telehealth consultations are the same.
Benefits far outlast the pandemic.
Telehealth proved its value during the extremes of the COVID pandemic. But its advantages remain even as that emergency, thankfully, fades. These benefits include:
- Increased access for patients in remote or rural areas, where providers, particularly specialists are scarce.
- Increased access for patients who can’t readily travel to a health care site because of mobility challenges
- Increased access for disabled patients, for whom travel is difficult and/or expensive.
- Increased access for the disadvantaged or working poor, who cannot readily take time off from work to visit a health care facility or afford transportation.
We don’t know what will happen after September 30th. We do know what we can do now.
Regardless of whether the next budget coming out of Washington includes cuts to Medicare telehealth coverage, here are concrete actions you can take to help your clients, and your elder care practice, thrive in the future according to an AARP article by Susan Milligan:
- Thoroughly familiarize yourself with what telehealth services clients are currently using.
- Research if your clients’ health care providers offer digital options that could replace, at least partially, a telehealth service. A patient online, portal perhaps.
- Investigate local, municipal travel services, car or van pools for the elderly. Local charities may also offer elder travel services.
- If you’re of a mind, get involved in advocacy for Medicare Telehealth services, so elected representatives understand their proven value.
If you have other suggestion, please share them here, with the AgePros community.
And know this. Yes, things are uncertain. But we’re sure AgePros will succeed. For their clients and themselves.
