Congress enacted a government funding package that included a 6-month extension of current Medicare telehealth waivers through September 30, 2025,
- Through September 30, 2025:
Telehealth is broadly covered, including services in your home.
- Starting October 1, 2025:
You’ll generally need to be in a rural area to receive most telehealth services, although mental and behavioral health services will still be covered at home.
- Certain waivers and extensions:
Congress has passed legislation extending some telehealth waivers and flexibilities, including those for rural health clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers.
- Mental health services:
Providers in the field of mental and behavioral health can continue to offer telehealth services from any location, including patients’ homes, and use audio-only methods when video is unavailable, according to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
- Audio-only services:Audio-only services may continue to be covered for certain telehealth services, particularly for patients who lack reliable internet or prefer audio-only communication, according to Telehealth.HHS.gov.