Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senator John Thune is working to preserve and expand telehealth access for South Dakotans. As a member of the Senate telehealth working group, Thune is urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities permanent before they expire at the end of the year. These flexibilities expanded access to telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries.

"South Dakotans have long understood the value of telehealth," said Thune. "I will continue to propose and support efforts to help strengthen telehealth and expand mental health services for Medicare beneficiaries. South Dakotans, especially those in the most rural parts of our state, must have equal access to these critical services."

Thune has been a strong advocate for telehealth as a means to increase access to healthcare services in rural communities. In 2018, he authored the e-TREAT Act, which increased access to substance use disorder treatment through telehealth technology in Medicare. Thune has also led efforts to expand access to telehealth by introducing the CONNECT for Health Act, which would permanently give beneficiaries the ability to access telehealth services in Medicare.

To further support telehealth access, Thune and his colleagues have reintroduced the Telemental Health Care Access Act. This legislation aims to remove barriers to telemental health services for Medicare beneficiaries.

In a letter to Secretary Becerra, Thune and his colleagues urged the HHS to work with Congress to ensure that all Medicare beneficiaries have permanent access to telehealth services before the temporary waivers expire on December 31, 2024. They emphasized the importance of telehealth in healthcare delivery, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Telehealth is a cost-effective way to improve access to care, especially for rural and underserved communities," the letter stated. "We must provide patients and clinicians long-term certainty about access to care through telehealth."

Thune and his colleagues are calling for collaboration between HHS and Congress to enact permanent telehealth legislation. They are requesting timely technical assistance and data sharing to support Congress' legislative work. They also urge Secretary Becerra to communicate the authorities, appropriations, resources, and other supports needed to achieve the goal of permanent telehealth access.

As telehealth continues to play a vital role in healthcare, Thune and his colleagues are committed to ensuring that South Dakotans and all Medicare beneficiaries have equal and permanent access to these critical services.