Standing at Olean General Hospital, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer launched his push to protect Medicare’s telehealth program, which could expire in just two months without Congressional action.

Schumer said it is critical to avoid a possible telehealth cliff for Western New York senior citizens.

“Telehealth services are essential in places like Cattaraugus County; it is a lifeline for our rural areas and seniors who can’t easily travel to the doctor to get the healthcare they need and we can’t let it expire. That’s why I’m launching a push to avoid the telehealth cliff and save this lifeline for tens of thousands of seniors in Western New York,” Schumer said. “We saw telehealth surge in use during the pandemic, and we should make sure that access to your doctor is as easy as picking up your phone. I was proud to help Medicare expand telehealth services during the pandemic, but we need to act quickly to preserve this program and ensure this lifeline isn’t cut off for our seniors come 2025. Whether you are in Buffalo or Salamanca, telehealth helps improve accessibility, affordability and makes our hospitals stronger by reducing wait times and making sure patients can get the care they need, and we have seen that right here in Olean. It makes it so patients can receive timely care, even when they can’t physically make it to the doctor’s office.”

Schumer said during the pandemic, the federal government declared a public health emergency that gave the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) flexibility to reimburse patients for expenses related to telehealth services and allowed providers to deliver audio-only health care services.

When the public health emergency officially ended last year, Schumer led efforts to pass legislation to extend those flexibilities that allowed CMS to cover telehealth appointments. However, that legislative authority will expire on Dec. 31 without congressional action. This means that seniors could lose coverage for telehealth appointments, doctors could no longer provide audio-only telehealth services, and fewer providers will be able to receive reimbursement for telehealth services.

Schumer is now pushing to include an extension in the end of year legislation and try to make telehealth services a permanent and accessible option for all on Medicare.

“We believe that the continued expansion of proven telehealth services will improve vital health care access, specifically for high-risk and vulnerable patients, while reducing costs on many overburdened hospitals and health care systems. This is especially true in rural communities. The previous expansion of Medicare services under the CARES Act has shown that hospitals can successfully use a wider breadth of telehealth services–regardless of patient geography–to offer quality patient care to more patients while reducing costs. We are grateful that Senator Schumer continues to lead the charge to help us improve access to care for both patients and providers,” said Dr. Michael Mineo, chief medical officer at Kaleida Health.

There are 32,359 senior citizens in Chautauqua County who would qualify for telehealth services through Medicare.

Telehealth has become an increasingly important service at Olean General Hospital, particularly in the emergency room (ER), where it has provided critical support for both patients and healthcare providers. From 2020 to 2024, the hospital has seen a steady use of telehealth in the ER, with hundreds of telehealth visits providing services for patients during times of high demand or when in-person consultations are not immediately possible. Olean General Hospital said this has helped them manage patient flow more effectively, reduce the strain on hospital resources, and improve the overall efficiency of emergency care.

“Telehealth is transforming healthcare access for residents in Cattaraugus County, especially for our senior population,” said Dr. Kevin D. Watkins, Cattaraugus County public health director. “With nearly 21% of our residents aged 65 and older, and many of them living in remote areas, telehealth is an essential service that provides convenient, timely care. For our seniors, who often face transportation challenges and greater health needs, telehealth offers a safe and effective way to manage chronic conditions and access follow-up care without the strain of long travel. Despite broadband gaps in some areas, telehealth is making a critical difference in the quality of life for our aging community.”