The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Announces Proposal to Eliminate Telehealth Copayments and Establish Grant Program
WHY IT MATTERS
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has announced a proposal to amend a regulation to exempt all telehealth services from copayment requirements. The regulation, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Healthcare Improvement Act of 2019, grants the agency the authority to establish a telehealth grant program.
PROPOSED RULE
The VA is proposing to establish a grant program, Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations (ATLAS), which would focus on serving veterans in rural and medically underserved communities. The program would provide funding to organizations, including nonprofits and private businesses, to offer veterans private space equipped with high-speed internet access and the technology to meet with VA providers remotely. The grants would also provide designated funding to train on-site personnel to support the program.
THE LARGER TREND
The VA has been expanding its telehealth services, including the launch of a tele-emergency care service in September. The service allows veterans to contact VA Health Connect and speak to a clinical triage nurse who can connect them to tele-emergency care when needed. The service has helped over 61,000 callers and resolved 59.4% of cases without veterans having to travel to an urgent care or emergency department.
ON THE RECORD
"Waiving copays for telehealth services and launching this grant program are both major steps forward in ensuring veterans can access healthcare where and when they need it," said VA Secretary Denis McDonough in a statement.
CONCLUSION
The proposed rule aims to increase access to healthcare for veterans, particularly those in rural and medically underserved communities. By waiving copays for telehealth services and establishing a grant program, the VA is taking steps to ensure that veterans can receive the care they need without having to travel long distances or face barriers to access.
FAQs
Q: What is the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Healthcare Improvement Act of 2019?
A: The act grants the VA the authority to establish a telehealth grant program and exempt telehealth services from copayment requirements.
Q: What is Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations (ATLAS)?
A: ATLAS is a grant program that would provide funding to organizations to offer veterans private space equipped with high-speed internet access and the technology to meet with VA providers remotely.
Q: What is the VA Telehealth Emergency Management Team?
A: The team was established in response to Hurricanes Harvey and Maria in 2017 and launched the Anywhere to Anywhere VA Healthcare program. The program aimed to increase access to care for veterans during emergencies.
Q: How has the COVID-19 crisis affected VA telehealth services?
A: VA video-to-home telehealth encounters surged 3,147% from 294,847 encounters in fiscal 2019 to 9,575,958 in fiscal 2021.
