This week’s series covers:
- ATA Calls on Congress to Act by March 31st on Permanent Medicare Telehealth Rules and Fair Payment Rates
- Supreme Court to Review ACA Preventive Services Case, Examining Religious Freedom and Insurance Coverage
- HHS Removes Richardson Waiver, Easing Public Input Requirements for Rule Changes
Missed Last Week’s Healthcare.com Roundup? Here’s what happened:
- February 25, 2025
- February 13, 2025
- February 5, 2025
- January 31, 2025
- January 22, 2025
- January 15, 2025
- January 8, 2025
ATA Urges Congress to Act Before March 31st Telehealth Deadline, Pushing for Permanent Medicare Rules and Fair Payment Rates
The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) is raising awareness about the March 31st deadline to maintain telehealth access. In a letter to Congress, the ATA urged action on key issues, including making Medicare telehealth rules permanent, allowing Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to continue virtual care, and ensuring fair payment rates.
It also called for preserving audio-only telehealth for seniors and those without reliable internet and relaxing Drug Enforcement Administration regulations on prescribing controlled substances via telehealth.
Why this Matters:
Most Medicare telehealth expansions will end on March 31, 2025, and will require in-person visits except for mental health and rural access.
Agents and brokers must inform consumers, guide plan choices, and adjust marketing strategies as telehealth coverage changes.
HHS Removes Richardson Waiver, Easing Public Input Requirements on Rule Changes
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has removed the Richardson Waiver, a policy that required public input on certain rule changes. This waiver added extra requirements beyond those set by the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Under the APA, HHS can issue rules related to agency management, public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts without needing public comment. By removing the Richardson Waiver, HHS claims to follow the rulemaking process outlined in the APA.
Why This Matters:
HHS can now change policies on benefits, grants, and contracts without public input, speeding up rule changes but limiting consumer feedback on Medicare, Medicaid, and other plans.
The Health Insurance sector must stay informed as policies may shift quickly, impacting healthcare plans and reducing industry influence on regulations.
Supreme Court to Review ACA Preventive Services Case, Potential Impact on Religious Freedom and Insurance Coverage
On April 21, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc. to decide if the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is set up in a way that violates the Constitution. The case involves the ACA rule that requires health insurance plans to cover certain preventive services recommended by the USPSTF and other agencies without charging patients extra costs. Insurance companies must cover controversial services, like FDA-approved contraceptives and PrEP drugs, without co-pays or deductibles. The petitioners argue that these requirements are illegal and violate religious freedoms, asking the Court to stop enforcing them.
Why This Matters:
A Supreme Court ruling against the ACA’s preventive services mandate could end no-cost coverage for services like contraceptives and PrEP, making care more expensive or harder to access.
Agents must stay informed as insurers may drop or modify coverage, affecting plan options and client guidance.
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