The Future of Telehealth

Telehealth today enjoys wide bipartisan support. Republicans and Democrats see the value in virtual care, as do millions of Americans. Congress’ 2023 omnibus spending package further extended pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries through December 31, 2024.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, access to virtual care in traditional Medicare was quite limited–telehealth services were almost exclusively for beneficiaries living in rural areas and accounted for less than 1% of all Medicare services. By 2021, telehealth utilization in the Medicare program rose nearly 40 times higher than pre-pandemic levels.

The Bipartisan Policy Center has produced analysis and recommendations to help policymakers as they seek to strike the right balance between access, quality, and cost for telehealth in the long-term.

We look forward to working with policymakers to craft policy solutions that protect consumers, make financial sense, and ensure the delivery of high-quality care. We want all Americans to continue benefiting from the access and convenience of telehealth services while minimizing risks to quality and spending.