03/20/2025

Medicare Telehealth Gets Another Temporary Lifeline – Will Congress Make it Permanent?

On March 15, 2025, President Trump signed a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown, which included a critical six-month extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities through September 30, 2025. This six-month extension provides a temporary reprieve from the looming expiration of telehealth waivers that have been in place since the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). While this is a positive development, it underscores the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Medicare’s long-term telehealth policy—an issue that Congress must address with a more permanent solution. The healthcare industry has increasingly emphasized the need for regulatory certainty to support long-term planning, investment in telehealth infrastructure and sustained access to care for Medicare beneficiaries.

What the Extension Means for Providers
Medicare providers will continue to operate under the existing telehealth flexibilities for an additional six months. This means:

• No Geographic or Site Restrictions – Medicare beneficiaries can receive telehealth services regardless of their location, including from their homes.
• Expanded Practitioner Eligibility – A broader range of healthcare providers, including physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists, can continue furnishing telehealth services.
• Coverage for Audio-Only Services – Medicare will maintain reimbursement for certain audio-only visits, which have been critical for reaching patients without reliable broadband access.
• Hospital and Facility-Based Telehealth – Flexibilities allowing hospitals and health systems to use telehealth for certain hospital-at-home and outpatient services remain in place.
• FQHCs and RHCs Participation - Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics can continue to offer telehealth services, ensuring access in underserved areas. 
• Mental Health Flexibilities - The in-person evaluation requirement for mental health services delivered via telehealth has been deferred, allowing patients to continue receiving mental health care via telehealth.

For hospitals, health systems and provider groups that have invested heavily in telehealth infrastructure, this extension offers short-term stability. However, the uncertainty beyond September 2025 remains a pressing concern.

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