HAYES INTRODUCES BILL TO LOWER COSTS FOR TELEHEALTH PATIENTS

The following information was released by the office of Connecticut Rep. Jahana Hayes:

Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) introduced the Fair Telehealth Billing Act of 2026, legislation to lower costs for telehealth patients. Specifically, the legislation would prohibit certain facility fees for telehealth services.

Facility fees are often used by hospitals and providers to maximize revenue and added on top of professional service fees. Fees imposed upon patients who never set foot in a facility are hard to justify. Hospitals offer little transparency in charging these fees, and often do not disclose until after treatment is provided. This system creates unexpected and avoidable costs for individuals and families who are simply seeking timely medical care.

"Families throughout Connecticut and across our country continue to struggle to afford the exorbitant cost of health insurance. The Fair Telehealth Billing Act seeks to alleviate the financial burden for patients who use telehealth services. Modernizing delivery of care must also include streamlining the billing process for patients," said Congresswoman Hayes.

According to the National Academy for State Health Policy, facility fees can increase out-of-pocket costs for patients by as much as $1,000. Patients are often charged separately for professional services and facility fees, leading to double-billing. The Fair Telehealth Billing Act of 2026 prevents health care facilities from charging consumers a separate facility fee; ensuring facility fees for telehealth would only be permitted when there is no professional fee available to the billing provider. This approach is fair to health care providers, who will get paid for their services, and to patients, who will only receive one bill for the care they receive through telehealth.