Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, Tina Smith, John Thune, and Ben Cardin have reintroduced the bipartisan Telemental Health Care Access Act in an effort to eliminate obstacles to telemental health services for Medicare beneficiaries. The bill seeks to address the increased demand for mental health care during the pandemic and ensure that individuals have access to the services they need.

Dr. Cassidy highlights the importance of telehealth in expanding healthcare access, stating, "Since the pandemic, we have seen how telehealth expanded health care access for those with substance use disorders, physical ailments, and mental health conditions. It has been an important lifeline for rural communities."

Senator Smith emphasizes the significance of telehealth in bridging gaps in healthcare access, particularly for individuals in rural areas. She says, "Especially for Minnesotans in small towns and rural places suffering from mental health challenges, long commutes to the nearest provider can mean virtual care is the only feasible option. This bill is an important step in making it easier for mental health patients on Medicare to ask for help and get the care they need, without having to jump through administrative hoops."

Senator Cardin echoes the importance of telehealth services, stating, "We fought to expand telehealth access during the pandemic and the results demonstrated how critical a tool it is for countless Americans, especially for mental health services." He further adds, "Our legislation also provides another opportunity to address the issue of access to care and health disparities."

Senator Thune highlights the value of telehealth in South Dakota, stating, "South Dakotans have long understood the value of telehealth." He expresses his support for the bill, which aims to expand access to mental health services for Medicare beneficiaries, particularly in rural areas.

The Telemental Health Care Access Act specifically aims to remove the requirement for Medicare beneficiaries to be seen in person within six months of receiving mental health services through telehealth. The bill seeks to eliminate this in-person requirement, allowing patients to directly access mental health services via telehealth.

The bill is supported by numerous organizations and associations, including the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American Nurses Association, Mental Health America, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the Wounded Warrior Project, among others.

Kyle Zebley, Senior Vice President of the American Telemedicine Association, expresses support for the bill, stating, "This is a big step towards achieving our goal - to permanently remove the telemental health in-person requirement, allowing patients to receive care where and when they need it, especially when they are most vulnerable."

Laurel Stine, Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, also applauds the senators for their leadership in removing the in-person visit requirement for telemental health, stating, "We urge the Senate to pass the Telemental Health Care Access Act without delay."

The reintroduction of the Telemental Health Care Access Act reflects the growing recognition of the importance of telehealth in providing accessible mental health care. With the support of bipartisan senators and various organizations, the bill aims to remove barriers and ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have the necessary access to telemental health services.