MGMA has long advocated for expanding coverage and reimbursement of virtual services to increase patient access to care. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency (PHE), Congress and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) allowed greater flexibility in how telemedicine is delivered to safely treat patients. While the COVID-19 PHE ended on May 11, 2023, many of these flexibilities were renewed multiple times in the subsequent years following the PHE. In addition to these PHE-related waivers, Congress and CMS have used subsequent legislation and rulemaking, such as the annual Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and temporary statutory extensions, to further expand or maintain telehealth
access and payment policies.