Last week, Protecting Americans’ Coverage Together (PACT), a coalition of employer voices dedicated to strengthening employer-provided coverage, joined more than 200 organizations in a letter to congressional leadership urging Congress to extend telehealth flexibilities before their expiration at the end of the year.
In the letter to Congress, PACT and the other signatories highlighted how the lapse of this provision would limit access to telehealth services, increase telehealth costs for employees, and create greater obstacles to care, particularly mental and behavioral health services. Extending these flexibilities has been a priority of PACT, which includes the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, Vermeer Corporation, the National Association of Manufacturers and Council for Affordable Health Coverage.
“Without congressional action, employers will be required to charge employees more to access telehealth services, creating a barrier to care, including tele-mental health treatment,” said the organizations. “The nation’s growing mental health crisis demonstrates that Americans need more access to affordable mental and behavioral health services, not less. Importantly, 98% of employers say maintaining the [Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security] Act telehealth flexibility would be beneficial for their plans and covered employees and their families, with 72% stating that it would be 'important' or 'very important.’”
The organizations also emphasized the importance of preserving telehealth services from the perspective of employees, who have expressed how this flexibility made health care services more accessible.
“Employees do not want to lose access to pre-deductible telehealth benefits. In a December 2022 survey, 78% said the flexibility made it easier to seek out needed health care services and 73% said ‘Congress should make permanent the provisions that allowed for coverage of telehealth services before paying their full deductible.’”
The letter concludes, “The support for affordable telehealth and telemental health is strong. Allowing employers and health plans to continue offering these important services pre-deductible improves affordability and expands access. We laud the bipartisan cosponsors for their work, and we urge Congress to enact legislation this year that will ensure this important flexibility does not expire.”
To read the full letter, click here.
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The Protecting Americans' Coverage Together campaign is a coalition that includes the U.S Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, Vermeer Corporation, the National Association of Manufacturers and Council for Affordable Health Coverage. PACT represents leading employer voices focused on strengthening employer-provided coverage and benefits that American families depend on for their health.
