11/07/2024

Urge lawmakers to support permanent extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities.

During the COVID-19 public health emergency and through the end of 2024, CMS has had the authority to expand access to telehealth services for all Medicare beneficiaries. A temporary extension, waiving the geographic and site restrictions on telehealth reimbursement, is scheduled to expire at the end of 2024. Without Congressional action, starting January 1, 2025, patients with Medicare will need to be in a rural area and at a medical facility to receive non-behavioral health services via telehealth.

However, the final rule preserves some important, but limited, flexibilities through the end of 2025 that help maintain patient access to telehealth services.

Interactive telecommunications systems may include audio-only communication technology for any Medicare telehealth service furnished to a beneficiary in their home, if the distant site physician or practitioner is technically capable of using a system with audio and video technology, but the patient is not willing or able to use video technology. CMS will also continue to permit distant site practitioners to use their currently enrolled practice locations instead of their home addresses when providing telehealth services from their home.

To urge lawmakers to support permanent extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities

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