Key Changes Included in the AHCA
The American Health Care Act (ACHA), or “Trumpcare,” is essentially meant to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare.” However, there are still many details in the recently passed draft that need to be revised before it becomes law. Interestingly, the words “telemedicine” or “telehealth” are not included anywhere in the act’s text. So, the question is, “How much of an impact will the changes to the health care act have on telemedicine?” First, let’s look at several key changes to the health care act that are presently included in its text:
• Individuals will not have to buy insurance.
• Tax credits to pay for health coverage will be based on age instead of income.
• States can define which health benefits insurance plans must cover.
• States can apply for a waiver from the act’s 10 essential health benefits.
• Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion in 2020 will be eliminated.
• States can apply for a waiver from the act’s community rating provision; approved states can receive money from the Patient and State Stability Fund to offset health care costs associated with patients who have pre-existing conditions.[1]
Why Telehealth Providers Are Concerned
It’s predicted that fewer Americans (up to 26 million) would have health insurance coverage if the present bill becomes law. Unfortunately, fewer people with insurance results in a narrower telemedicine market within a traditional primary or specialty medical practice.[2] In addition, if you’re one of the 74 million people who has Medicaid, your benefits could be reduced.
Proactive Measures Made on Behalf of Telemedicine
On a positive note, the implementation of telemedicine technologies is the one topic that both Republicans and Democrats in Congress seem to be in agreement on. To sum up the words of Trump’s new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid program leader, Seema Verma, telemedicine delivers a more flexible, innovative method to widen health care access to the underprivileged and rural locations. Many states are proactively partnering with Congress to hopefully expand the use of telemedicine technologies by passing “parity laws.” By definition, parity laws require reimbursement from private insurers for telemedicine that is equivalent to “in-person care.” To date, Washington, New York, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Utah have introduced legislation to achieve telemedicine parity.[3]
Although changes to the health care act will ultimately affect how telemedicine is implemented in the health care industry and who can receive it, optimism about its future remains strong. This is because it’s already being integrated within nearly every type of medical facility as well as in the patient’s home or on the jobsite. Although it may not always involve clinical care, telemedicine greatly improves the quality, affordability, and value of health care to patients worldwide.
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References
[1] https://chironhealth.com/blog/american-health-care-act-might-mean-telemedicine/
[2] https://chironhealth.com/telemedicine/what-is-telemedicine/
[3] http://searchhealthit.techtarget.com/blog/Health-IT-Pulse/Telemedicine-parity-laws-are-on-the-rise-but-restrictions-impede-use