HLC Joins Stakeholder Groups in Pushing for Extension of Telehealth Flexibilities

This week, the Healthcare Leadership Council, along with more than 300 stakeholder groups, sent a letter to Congressional leaders in the House and Senate urging them to expand access to care and improve affordability by allowing employers and health plans to offer telehealth services pre-deductible.

The expanded flexibilities for Health Savings Account-eligible plans, first enacted in 2020 and subsequently extended to the end of 2024, have helped millions of Americans access the care they need. Unfortunately, the program expired on January 1st and now employers are required to charge employees more to access telehealth services, creating a barrier to care, including tele-mental health and other specialty care.

The letter highlights the popularity and importance of these benefits both among employees and employers.

“The support for affordable telehealth and tele-mental 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 act now to enact legislation that will make permanent this important flexibility.”

The letter, which can be found here, was sent to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).