Rep. Marshall Commends Trump Administration Expansion of Telehealth Benefit for America's Seniors

SALINA, Kansas, March 19 -- Rep. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, issued the following news release:

This week, the Trump administration announced an expansion of telehealth benefits for America's seniors during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. These changes will allow America's seniors greater flexibility to communicate with their health care provider without needing to travel to an office. These added benefits will also relieve stress on providers, allowing them to offer services remotely so emergency rooms and doctor's offices are available for urgent cases.

"Having been a physician serving a rural community for 25 years, I've long known the need of providing patients with telehealth services," said U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D. "This is an issue I've been working on since my first days in Congress. At a time like this, when it is so important that seniors stay inside and avoid as much travel as possible, this change is a huge benefit to Kansas. In 'flattening the curve' of the COVID-19 outbreak, this is just one more example of the Trump Administration's efforts to ensure our nation's health care providers on the front lines can continue to provide quality care to their patients without placing people at risk of exposure."

Under this expanded benefit, seniors can access their provider over the telephone, using video telecommunications tools like Skype and FaceTime, and online patient portals found on their provider's website. The expanded benefit is available to seniors in rural and non-rural areas, and they will be able to access a physician's office, hospital, nursing home, and rural health clinic -- all from the comfort of their home. In most cases, seniors seeking telehealth services will need to be an existing patient with that provider.

"This expanded benefit isn't just limited to common office visits," said Rep. Marshall. "Seniors will also continue to be able to receiving care for mental health counseling and preventive health screenings. I recommend Kansas seniors with a Medicare health plan call their health care provider to learn how to get started."

To learn more about Medicare coverage for telehealth services and answers to commonly asked questions, click here (https://dispatch.revily.com/t/r-l-jhdidkll-l-y/).