President Trump’s executive order aims to improve telemedicine in rural communities in Wyoming and across America.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) issued the following statement praising President Trump’s recent executive order on improving telehealth access for Medicare patients in rural communities.

“As co-chairman of the bipartisan Senate Rural Health Caucus, I strongly support President Trump’s executive action to improve health care in rural America,” Barrasso said. “Rural communities in Wyoming and across the country will benefit from this administration’s focus on improving telehealth. Access to this technology is more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a way to make sure patients continue to get the critical care they need. Congress needs to support President Trump in this important work.”

Background:

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were a variety of restrictions in Medicare that prevented widespread use of telehealth services. In response, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) temporarily waived many of the restrictions on the use of telehealth. They also added 135 services that could be delivered via telehealth.

In response to the president’s executive order, CMS is now proposing extending
payment for other telehealth services such as emergency department visits through the calendar year in which the public health emergency ends.

CMS is also exploring if other types of services should be delivered and reimbursed using telehealth.

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