comprehensive

WASHINGTON — A House subcommittee on Thursday advanced legislation that would extend some pandemic-era telehealth policies in Medicare for two years, bringing the panel’s approach in line with another committee.

During the pandemic, Congress extended flexibilities that changed what kinds of care Medicare beneficiaries could receive over telehealth and where. Originally, the House Energy and Commerce health subcommittee had considered a bill that would have enacted the policies permanently, but amended the legislation Thursday to pare it down to a two-year extension. The bill passed to the full committee unanimously on a 21-0 vote.

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The approach is in line with that of another panel, the House Ways and Means Committee, which passed a two-year extension earlier this month. Both bills include similar provisions that would pay for the extension in part through reforms to the way in which pharmacy middlemen operate.

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The progress is important as it helps define the scope of the health care legislation Congress will be considering in December, when several other health programs are expiring. A longer, more expensive extension would have put on the table more ambitious policies such as equalizing pay for services between physician offices and hospital outpatient departments.

“I … am committed to continue working to address any outstanding concerns, and to ensuring the legislation is fully paid for, before we consider them at the full committee,” said Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.).

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Lawmakers discussed reforming pharmacy benefit managers in spending talks earlier this year, but ultimately failed to come to an agreement. The December deadline will be another chance for Congress to take action.

The Senate has not marked up its own version of a telehealth extension yet.