Washington, D.C.–U.S.
Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Finance
Committee, delivered the following remarks at a hearing entitled, “COVID-19 Health
Care Flexibilities: Perspectives, Experiences and Lessons Learned.”
The text of Ranking Member
Crapo’s remarks, as prepared, is below.
“Thank
you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this important hearing.
“Congress
and the Administration provided certain health care flexibilities during the
pandemic so that patients could continue to receive high-quality care.
“Making
permanent changes based on lessons learned is a top priority.
“I
have shared my interest with President Biden’s nominees for the key health care
positions that have come before this Committee, and appreciate their commitment
to work with me and this Committee.
“Republicans
and Democrats often disagree on the best way to achieve shared health care
goals.
“This
hearing, however, highlights an area of common ground.
“In
fact, Senator Wyden and I asked the majority and minority staff to jointly plan
this hearing, demonstrating strong bipartisanship.
“Acting
on legislative changes and using administrative authority, the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services waived over 200 payment rules during the
pandemic in Medicare alone.
“Needless
to say, there is a lot we can learn.
“Today’s
witnesses will provide insight to guide our efforts in evaluating these
flexibilities.
“Hearing
first-hand about the patient experience during the pandemic from providers who
overcame challenges to provide care will be invaluable.
“Understanding
how the flexibilities are used in fee-for-service, Medicare Advantage and in
alternative payment models will be insightful.
“Much
of the hearing will focus on care provided during the pandemic through
telehealth.
“Telehealth
has been a lifeline for patients and providers, especially in the early months
of the pandemic.
“The
reliance on telehealth increased in rural and urban areas alike, allowing
patients to receive remote care from the safety of their home.
“Telehealth
services have been especially useful for Idahoans.
“According
to the Idaho Department of Insurance, telemedicine visits went from an average
of about 200 appointments per month to 28,000 telehealth visits in April 2020
alone.
“To
ensure financial stability, providers have been paid at the same rate as if the
service was furnished in-person.
“This
has facilitated care that otherwise would be risky or unavailable, and patients
have appreciated the convenience.
“It
has reduced the frequency of missed appointments, and assisted provider
investment in the infrastructure needed for remote care.
“This
long period of expanded telehealth will help us understand the impact on
quality of care and program costs.
“It
serves as a robust test project on a scale few could have imagined.
“The
promise of telehealth is clear, but it is important that we gather evidence on
its impact on access, quality and cost.
“There
are approaches to providing care in the most efficient setting that go beyond
telehealth.
“Some
hospitals are using a waiver that provides flexibility to triage patients who
present to the hospital to see if they can be best cared for in their home.
“Whether
through telehealth, ‘hospital at home,’ or other innovative care arrangements,
it is important to find ways to get patients care that best meets their needs,
and at the lowest cost possible.
“Congress
has taken permanent steps to do just that in recent years.
“Nephrologists
can conduct remote evaluations of patients receiving home dialysis.
“Providers
can administer certain drugs to vulnerable patients in their own homes.
“Hearing
from our provider witnesses helps us to continue down this path.
“The
Government Accountability Office will supplement what we hear from our provider
experts, offering a perspective on how to track and evaluate flexibilities in
Medicare and Medicaid as we chart the right course forward.
“I
fully expect we will take what we learn from this hearing to continue our
bipartisan efforts to help providers give patients the best care possible.
“Permanent
changes based on lessons learned from the pandemic to modernize Medicare
payment systems lends to the pressing need to address Medicare’s financial
struggles.
“Identifying
smart reforms that make Medicare more efficient will be better for patients and
better for taxpayers.
“Such
changes alone will not put Medicare on a sustainable path, but they should be
part of that broader conversation.
“Addressing
Medicare solvency should also be a bipartisan issue, with time best spent
determining how to shore up the current system instead of expanding it to a
broader population.
“Finding
the right path on these priority issues is important to patients and the health
programs in the Committee’s jurisdiction.
“This
hearing will help us to capitalize on the bipartisan opportunity.
“Thank
you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.”
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