{"id":9298,"date":"2025-02-28T04:10:24","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T09:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/?p=9298"},"modified":"2025-02-28T04:10:24","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T09:10:24","slug":"senior-citizens-rattled-by-medicare-telehealth-coverage-expiration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/2025\/02\/28\/senior-citizens-rattled-by-medicare-telehealth-coverage-expiration\/","title":{"rendered":"Senior Citizens Rattled by Medicare Telehealth Coverage Expiration"},"content":{"rendered":"

Senior Citizens Rattled by News that Medicare Telehealth Coverage Could Expire Next Month<\/h1>\n

Kaye Peterson’s Dependence on Medicare Telehealth<\/h2>\n

For Kaye Peterson, 67, the expansion of Medicare telehealth coverage during Covid-19 was a godsend.<\/p>\n

Peterson, who has Type 1 diabetes and lives in an assisted living facility, no longer drives, so she depends on extended family when she needs in-person appointments with specialists who are roughly an hour away from her home in Lebanon, Kentucky. But for routine primary care, she simply uses her iPhone.<\/p>\n

Expiration of Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities<\/h2>\n

Soon that may no longer be possible. On March 31, Medicare telehealth “flexibilities” established during the Covid-19 pandemic are set to expire. Recent social media posts, including the one that alerted Peterson to the change, have prompted an outcry from beneficiaries and their families who rely on the service.<\/p>\n

Importance of Telehealth for Older Adults<\/h2>\n

Health advocates say the telemedicine options now at risk are particularly important for older adults who are homebound or, like Peterson, live in rural communities far from their doctors’ offices.<\/p>\n

What’s at Stake<\/h2>\n

If Congress doesn’t act, on April 1, the prior rules will largely be restored, which means that most telehealth appointments will only be covered if they’re provided in person at rural medical facilities.<\/p>\n

Exceptions to the Rule<\/h3>\n

There will be exceptions for certain services, such as mental health care and some visits for home dialysis treatments.<\/p>\n

Risks of Lapse in Telehealth Coverage<\/h2>\n

A lapse could have ramifications for millions of Medicare beneficiaries. Roughly 13% of the nearly 22 million people with traditional coverage received a telehealth service between October and December 2023.<\/p>\n

Physician Perspective<\/h2>\n

Dr. Cecil Bennett, a family medicine physician in Newnan, Georgia, outside Atlanta, estimates that half of his clinic’s patients are on Medicare. Some already have telehealth appointments scheduled months out. He often uses telehealth to deliver simple information, like lab results, and fears that some patients may miss necessary appointments if they require an in-person visit, allowing conditions to worsen.<\/p>\n

Advocates’ Concerns<\/h2>\n

\u201cThere’s no doubt in my mind that seniors are going to suffer if this waiver goes away,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Government Response<\/h2>\n

As Congress clashes over a GOP-led House proposal that could slash Medicaid spending, advocates are hopeful that telehealth services offered via Medicare will remain a bipartisan cause.<\/p>\n

\u201cFederal government does things last minute,\u201d said Kyle Zebley, senior vice president for public policy at the American Telemedicine Association.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a wonderful place in being bipartisan that we find ourselves in a very divided, very polarized time,\u201d he said. \u201cWe’ll continue to work to do all we can to maintain that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

With the fate of telehealth still uncertain, the clock is ticking for millions of Medicare beneficiaries who rely on this service. As Congress weighs its next move, advocates are urging lawmakers to take action to preserve the flexibilities that have made telehealth a lifeline for older adults like Kaye Peterson.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n