Bill Swick, a 53-year-old man suffering from a rare degenerative brain disease, finds himself in a tough situation due to the ongoing government shutdown. After relying on telehealth services to manage his speech therapy from home, he is now cut off from critical care. Swick's wife, Martha, has reported that instead of making progress in his therapy, they are forced to revert to old coping strategies, which is frustrating for both of them.
This shutdown has implications that extend beyond just one household—millions of Medicare patients depend on these telehealth services, especially in light of the pandemic. Patients are worried about their health and continued support as the options for virtual appointments dwindle. While legislation had previously expanded access to telehealth, the current state of affairs leaves many patients without the care they need.
Healthcare providers are also facing the difficult choice of whether to continue offering their services amidst uncertainty about reimbursement from Medicare. With the government being in a stalemate, Congress appears unable to effectively address this issue, leaving patients like Bill and healthcare providers in a critical bind.
This shutdown has implications that extend beyond just one household—millions of Medicare patients depend on these telehealth services, especially in light of the pandemic. Patients are worried about their health and continued support as the options for virtual appointments dwindle. While legislation had previously expanded access to telehealth, the current state of affairs leaves many patients without the care they need.
Healthcare providers are also facing the difficult choice of whether to continue offering their services amidst uncertainty about reimbursement from Medicare. With the government being in a stalemate, Congress appears unable to effectively address this issue, leaving patients like Bill and healthcare providers in a critical bind.
