APTQI Commends Re-Introduction of Expanded Telehealth Access Act

Bipartisan legislation aims to permanently allow virtual access to therapy for Medicare beneficiaries

Washington, D.C. –– The Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation (APTQI) applauds the reintroduction of the Expanded Telehealth Access Act (H.R. 3875), introduced by Representatives Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11) and Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01). This bipartisan legislation makes physical therapists, audiologists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists permanently eligible for telehealth reimbursement, expanding access to quality care for patients and improving health outcomes. 

As with many specialty care services, patients rapidly adopted the use of telehealth to access physical therapy during the pandemic. At the end of the public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 extended telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2024. In order to extend the benefits of accessing telehealth beyond 2024, this new legislation will permanently allow virtual access to physical therapy by reimbursing telehealth services under the Medicare program. 

“The use of telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries during the pandemic empowered some of our most vulnerable patients who preferred alternative access to treatment,” said Nikesh Patel, PT, Executive Director of APTQI. “We commend Representatives Sherrill and Harshbarger and their bipartisan colleagues in Congress for re-introducing this legislation to make these vital telehealth reimbursement provisions permanent.”

Physical and occupational therapy advocates are urging Congress to enact a permanent policy for telehealth coverage to help stabilize outpatient therapy practices, where therapy providers face multiple payment sources, workforce pipeline challenges, and therapist burnout. 

“We look forward to working with Reps. Sherrill and Harshbarger to enlist more bipartisan support for this important legislation to ensure our patient populations maintain choice in how they access the therapy services they require to recover from illness or injury and age safely,” added Patel.

###