Bill could make remote addiction treatment permanent
Dayton Daily NewsJul 07, 2020
Prior to the pandemic there were a lot of redtape that made virtual teratment difficult. However, the federal government issued temporary permits for the services to be provided by phone or video, and it's been successful, officials said.
Now, the question is whether these changes will become permanent. Two
Lots of challenges, from work schedules to child care needs, can get in the way of a client making their appointment, said
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Before the pandemic, there were some options for remote appointments, but there were still restrictions that limited how much this was actually an option. New clients needed to first have an in-person appointment. Remote services had to be provided via video chat, and not everyone has the technology or internet access.
But an emergency waiver allowed for providers to be paid for these services even if given remotely on the first visit and even over the phone instead of requiring video chat.
"If this becomes permanent, this really in my mind speaks well to health equity," Jones-Kelley said. "Not everyone has the ability to get to a provider in person. Add what we have seen with the waiver is the ability for more people to be connected to services."
In May, the
On
The bill would build upon the
The TREATS Act would extend telehealth flexibility by making permanent waivers, including the ability to provide medication-assisted treatment and other necessary prescriptions, without needing a prior in-person visit and the ability to bill Medicare for audio-only telehealth services.
Portman said in a statement that the roll out of telehealth waivers has both helped patients maintain access to care safely at home and increased access to care for those that didn't otherwise have access to in-person treatment.
"As we move forward and look to life beyond this pandemic, we must make sure that the advances to care and access that telehealth is currently providing is not lost and that's exactly what this bill will do," Portman stated, after bill was introduced. "I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this common-sense legislation to make telehealth a permanent part of substance abuse disorder treatment."
The legislation is supported by:
In
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