Congress needs to protect telemedicine for mental health

Last week was Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Nearly 29 million Americans, or 9 percent of the entire U.S. population, battle an eating disorder in their lifetimes. Eating disorders are the second-deadliest mental health condition aside from opioid addiction, yet only 20 percent of individuals with eating disorders get treatment.

It is evident that patients desperately need tools and access to treatment that works in order to improve outcomes and save lives. This means urgent action in the form of permanent protection for patient access to telehealth without onerous restrictions.

Lawmakers must keep moving in the right direction by reintroducing legislation to permanently expand virtual care access for mental health treatment.

For patients struggling with eating disorders, telehealth has increased access to care by eliminating traditional barriers to treatment, such as travel time and distance to a provider. During COVID, telemedicine provided a lifeline to those seeking mental health treatment. Telehealth can also help people maintain continuity of care when they move to new cities and states, as more than 8 million people did last year.

Virtual mental health treatment has been proven to contribute to positive outcomes across mental health conditions, such as treatment engagement, retention, satisfaction and long-term health, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In fact, a published peer-reviewed study in 2022 demonstrated the efficacy of eating disorder treatment delivered via telemedicine.

Seven states lack an in-person treatment center for eating disorders; 11 states have only one. No wonder patients have cited the benefits of telemedicine, including easily accessible group therapy and not having to travel long distances, as significantly improving their ability to access care.

The benefits to patients are evident, but providers also value virtual care. Almost three in four physicians have implemented telehealth programs — a more than 25 percent increase since 2018.

Restrictions on telehealth were temporarily lifted in 2020 due to the public health emergency. Recognizing the need for action, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle passed legislation recently that extended this flexibility until the end of 2024.

Put simply, this has allowed Congress to kick the can further down the road and gave patients expanded telehealth access for a little bit longer. But now we’re nearing the previously “far off” deadline.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle recognize the need for action. They have been holding hearings, discussing the topic, and introducing relevant legislation. Recently, a bipartisan group of lawmakers stressed the urgency for action and the need to work with HHS to enact permanent protections.

Telehealth has become a needed lifeline for countless people nationwide. It’s time for Congress to stop kicking the can down the road and do what’s right: make virtual mental health the norm.

Dori Steinberg is a board member of the Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy, and Action and vice president of research for Equip.