On May 11, the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) of which ASAM is a member, sent a letter to Representatives Kim Schrier (D-CA) and Phil Roe (R-TN) in support of H.R. 6644, the Health Care at Home Act, which would require group health plans and health insurers to cover telehealth services, including mental health and substance use disorder services, during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The letter notes that during the COVID-19 pandemic, timely and safe access to health care is vitally important. Due to the infectious nature of COVID-19 delivery of health care has been necessarily shifting from in-person delivery to delivery through telehealth. Given this shift, it is critical that group health plans and insurers cover telehealth so that treatment for mental health and substance use disorder can continue during this uncertain times. The letter also praises the bill for requiring that health plans and insurers reimburse telehealth benefits covered due to COVID-19 at the same rate as in-person delivery of care.

Read the bill here.

Read the letter here.