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MANCHIN APPLAUDS DECISION TO INCREASE TELEPHONE-BASED HEALTH SERVICES REIMBURSEMENTS
Charleston, WV – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) applauded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) decision to increase reimbursement payments for telephone-based health services to equal other audio-visual and in-person visitation reimbursements. This decision comes 24 hours after Senator Manchin led 37 bipartisan Senators in advocating for this exact policy change.
“I am very pleased that HHS and CMS have made the decision to increase telephone-based telehealth services reimbursements. In West Virginia and rural areas across America, many people do not have access to reliable broadband, which is necessary to use video telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead they must turn to telephone-based telehealth services, which until today were not reimbursed at the same level,” Senator Manchin said. “This change will increase access to health services for West Virginians and ensures that our healthcare professionals are reimbursed fairly for their hard work taking care of their fellow West Virginians throughout this terrible pandemic.”
MANCHIN, CAPITO DISCUSS MOBILE COVID-19 TESTING WAIVERS FOR VETERANS WITH VA SECRETARY WILKIE
Charleston, WV – Today. U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) urged U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Secretary Wilkie to classify mobile COVID-19 testing as “Urgent Care” or “Emergency Care” for Veterans in order to allow Veterans to get tested in the community without prior-authorization by the VA. Secretary Wilkie gave the Senators assurances that he would look into the waiver process for Veterans to get tested at mobile testing sites with costs covered by the VA.
“No one in America should have to pay for COVID-19 testing out of their own pocket, especially our brave Veterans. Today Senator Capito and I urged VA Secretary Wilkie to allow Veterans to be tested at mobile testing sites with their costs covered by the VA. Secretary Wilkie promised that he would look into the process to see what can be done to ensure Veterans can receive coverage for their tests, no matter where they go. The CARES Act included $19.57 billion to ensure the VA has equipment, tests, telehealth capabilities and support services necessary to support Veterans and the healthcare workforce at facilities nationwide. No Veteran should have to jump through hoops to receive a test right now. I will continue to work with the VA until this issue is resolved for our Veterans in West Virginia and across the nation,” said Senator Manchin.
MANCHIN BILL TO EXTEND PPP LOAN TO 16 WEEKS
Charleston, WV – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced a legislative proposal that will provide employers greater flexibility in meeting the forgiveness requirements for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. By extending the time frame businesses are able to utilize their funds and pay employees, from 8 to 16 weeks after the date they receive their PPP funds, businesses can utilize the PPP loans in an effective way that works for their businesses. Senator Manchin has heard from numerous West Virginia business owners who have concerns about bringing employees back to work before the business is sufficiently recovered.
“It’s no secret COVID-19 has taken a toll on West Virginia businesses, especially our small businesses. Many businesses have taken advantage of the PPP loans, which have been instrumental in ensuring these businesses stay afloat and their employees receive a paycheck. My proposal would simply extend the time for eligible costs from 8 weeks to 16 weeks so small businesses are able to take full advantage of the program benefits on a timetable that works for them, without jeopardizing their eligibility for loan forgiveness. We cannot expect the PPP program to be successful if businesses are expected to bring employees back to work and begin paying down a loan before their business has had time to recover,” Senator Manchin said.
Information on the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act can be found here.
The Paycheck Protection Program Extension Bill text can be found here.
A timeline of Senator Manchin’s actions throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic can be found here.
MANCHIN, CAPITO LEAD BIPARTISAN CALL FOR EQUAL TELEPHONE-BASED HEALTH SERVICES REIMBURSEMENTS
Charleston, WV – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), today led 37 Senators in advocating for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to increase telephone-based, or audio-only, telehealth reimbursements to equal other audio-visual and in-person visitation reimbursements. Many West Virginians do not have access to reliable broadband, making it nearly impossible to use video-sharing to receive telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead they must turn to telephone-based telehealth services. However, healthcare professionals who provide these services are not receiving the same reimbursement for their telephone-based consultations as they would for visual or in-person consultations.
The Senators said in part, “As COVID-19 continues to spread in communities across the United States, millions of people are following directives to stay home and avoid risking exposure to the virus. In conjunction with those directives, health care providers have shifted to offering audio-visual telehealth services to patients, so that patients can receive evaluations, medical consultations, checkups and other services in their own homes, instead of risking exposure at a health care facility. However, for instances where a patient has no home access to internet, broadband or other cell phone services, physicians and other providers are furnishing these medical consultations through audio-only formats, such as telephone calls.”
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