Lobbyists Hope Telehealth Excepted Benefit Gets Into Year-End Bill Despite Partisan Rifts

Key telehealth lobbyists remain hopeful some form of legislation letting employers offer telehealth as an excepted standalone health benefit will be tucked into Congress’ likely must-pass year-end package despite growing Democratic opposition to the telehealth policy. On Wednesday (July 19) a second House committee cleared legislation allowing the standalone plans, bringing the bill one step closer to the floor -- but Democratic opposition appears to be growing with some lawmakers calling the plans “junk” insurance at Wednesday’s markup. The Telehealth...