Page 16 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 7, 2026 Sa Sa a Say y Senior enior Sen by Jim Miller Doctor Visits Without the Drive: How Medicare Covers Telehealth Dear Savvy Senior, I don’t drive much anymore, so getting to the doctor can be a hassle. They suggested telehealth visits, but I’m not very tech savvy. How does Medicare cover these kinds of appointments? --Trying to Keep Up Dear Trying, You’re certainly not alone. Many older adults are running into the same issue. Getting to appointments is not as easy as it used to be, and the idea of using technology for doctor visits can feel a little intimidating at fi rst. The good news is that telehealth has made it much easier to get care without leaving home, and it’s usually much simpler to use than people expect. Medicare covers many of these services, too, making it easier to stay connected with your health care providers. Here’s a look at how it works and what Medicare pays for. What is telehealth? Telehealth is simply a way to see or talk to your doctor from home using a phone, tablet or computer. Visits can be done by video, where you and your doctor can see and talk to each other, or sometimes by a regular phone call. And don’t worry, you don’t need to be a tech expert. Many doctor’s offi ces use simple systems and will walk you through it step by step. In some cases, all you have to do is click a link they send you or answer your phone at the scheduled time. It’s also important to understand that telehealth visits are not just quick chats. They are considered full medical appointments. Your doctor can go over symptoms, review medications, discuss test results and recommend treatment, much like an in person visit. Does Medicare cover it? Yes, Medicare does cover many telehealth services. While telehealth has been part of Medicare for years, it was expanded signifi cantly during the COVID 19 pandemic so people could safely get care from home. Those expanded benefi ts are still in place today. Right now, Medicare allows you to receive telehealth services from home no matter where you live. Covered visits include a wide range of care, such as reviewing lab results, managing prescriptions, routine checkups, preventive screenings and even evaluating minor illnesses like colds, coughs or infections. In many cases, follow up visits and ongoing care for chronic conditions can also be handled this way. Another big plus is fl exibility. If you are not comfortable with video or do not have internet access, some telehealth visits can still be done using just a regular phone call. And it is not limited to your primary doctor. Many types of health care providers can off er telehealth services. What’s ahead? Here’s where things get a little uncertain. The expanded telehealth coverage that began during the pandemic is not permanent, at least not yet. Under current law, these broader telehealth benefi ts are set to continue through Dec. 31, 2027. After that, Medicare will likely scale back coverage to more limited rules unless Congress steps in and extends the changes. Even so, some telehealth services are expected to continue long term. Mental and behavioral health care, diabetes education, nutrition therapy and certain dialysis related visits should still be covered. Audio-only phone visits for mental health care are also expected to remain available. If you are curious about telehealth, start by calling your doctor’s offi ce and asking what options they off er. They can guide you through the process and help you feel comfortable before your fi rst appointment. It may feel unfamiliar at fi rst, but many people fi nd that once they try telehealth, it’s a simple and convenient way to stay on top of their health, especially when getting to appointments is diffi cult. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. nr ior BEACON | FROM PAGE 14 safer and higher-quality care at their homes through more training, oversight and accountability in the licensure process and beyond.” (A Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes Yes CHILD WELFARE (H 5629) House 156-0, Senate 40-0, approved and sent to Gov. Healey legislation that supporters say would guarantee certain basic rights for children in foster care related to their safety, education and health care. They argued that the measure safeguards the wellbeing of children, especially those in state care and foster care; increases access to community support for children at risk of court involvement; and strengthens the Offi ce of the Child Advocate to support robust investigations into reports of harm or abuse to a child. A key provision would expand the diversion of children dealing with behavior or attendance problems to Family Resource Centers (FRCs) instead of the court system. Supporters note that FRCs provide accessible, confi dential support to children and families in crisis close to home and have proven successful in helping kids and teens stay in school, connecting families with services such as mental health or substance use treatment, housing aid and legal help. Other provisions include creating a Foster Child Bill of Rights to clarify and protect the basic rights and services foster children need to live healthy, safe and fulfi lled lives; codifying a Youth Engagement program to ensure the voices of youth are included to inform relevant policy, oversight and programs; allowing a child the same ability as an adult to petition the court to extend any abuse or harassment protection order made on behalf of the child; tasking the Offi ce of the Child Advocate (OCA) with supporting families and caregivers by providing training materials to mandated reporters and individuals who frequently work with children; and with creating and maintaining a list of resources for grieving parents who have experienced a sudden unexplained pediatric death. “This bill strengthens the systems that protect the commonwealth’s most vulnerable children,” said Rep. Jay Livingstone (D-Boston), House Chair of the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. “It provides new tools to schools, courts and child welfare agencies to improve educational, health and safety outcomes for our most vulnerable children. The bill also mandates more public reporting to better understand what’s working and identify where improvement is needed.” “This legislation reflects our shared responsibility to the children of the commonwealth — especially those who have experienced abuse, entered foster care or are navigating crises,” said Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “It affi rms that every child deserves not only protection, but support, stability, dignity and the opportunity to build the future they deserve. This bill makes meaningful, systemwide improvements — from establishing a Foster Child Bill of Rights to strengthening education continuity, family supports and accountability. It makes our child welfare system more responsive, transparent and compassionate.” “The bill fi nalized by the Legislature today makes important changes to improve the effi ciency, transparency, accountability and performance of the Department of Children and Families, the Offi ce of the Child Advocate and the Children Requiring Assistance systems.” said Sen. Robyn Kennedy (D-Worcester), Senate Chair of the Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities. “These long-needed improvements to our child welfare ecosystem have passed today because of the tireless work of so many. Because of their efforts, Massachusetts will be a better place for our children to learn and grow. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to make policy that helps all the children of the commonwealth thrive.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes Yes THE “PROTECT ACT” (H 5620 House 137-21, Senate on a voice vote without a roll call, approved and sent to Gov. Healey the PROTECT Act that supporters said would establish statewide standards governing interactions between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement. They said the measure would create among the strongest protections in the nation for residents who have immigrated to their communities; strengthen due process protections; limit civil immigration enforcement in courthouses, public school grounds, hospitals and other sensitive locations; expand protections for victims of crime; and increase transparency, accountability and clarity for correctional facilities and law enforcement relative to civil immigration enforcement. Provisions bar Massachusetts law enforcement agencies from signing new deputization agreements with federal immigration authorities, except in narrow, criminal-law-focused arrangements that meet additional safeguards; prohibit civil immigration arrests without a judicial warrant at schools, childcare centers, medical facilities and courthouses; establish a civil cause of action against federal offi cers who violate a resident’s constitutional rights, putting them under the same accountability standards as state and local police; keep state and local police out of federal civil immigration enforcement, barring the use of local resources for that purpose, or detention, based solely on a civil immigration detainer; and protect immigrant crime victims, including traffi cking survivors, who assist law enforcement as witnesses, and speeds up review of their special visa applications so they can keep participating in investigations or trials. “Since the beginning of President Trump’s second term, ICE and Border Patrol agents have continued to harass and disappear innocent Americans with total impunity—a reckless approach that has led to the deaths of American citizens and legal residents and to children being separated from their families,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “Those actions have immigrants in Massachusetts living in fear as they go to work or bring their children to school. And they jeopardize the trust that local law enforcement has worked hard to build. That’s why this legislation is so important, as it takes steps to ensure that all residents in Massachusetts are BEACON | SEE PAGE 17
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