Duluth, Minn. – Essentia Health says it’s joining the effort to ask lawmakers to extend Medicare coverage for telehealth services.
Coverage for those services is set to end on September 30th.
Essentia Health sent a letter to Congress calling for either a permanent extension, or a minimum two-year extension “to provide stability and clarity for patients, providers and the broader health care system.”
“Telehealth has transformed the way we deliver care at Essentia Health. By providing a virtual care option to our patients, we’ve removed barriers and made it easier and more convenient for patients to receive the care they need,” said Essentia Health CEO Dr. David Herman in a press release.
“As a leader in rural health care, we have seen firsthand how telehealth has improved the lives of our patients and become a crucial component of our modern health care system. We are committed to ensuring our patients covered by Medicare continue to have access to these benefits.”
Telehealth services have been covered by federal health insurance for the past five years.
Supporters say it allows patients who face obstacles in scheduling in-person care to get in touch with providers.
As a health care system serving primarily rural communities, Essentia Health has leveraged telehealth to deliver primary and specialty care to patients who would otherwise have to travel long distances to receive care,” part of the statement read.
