Member Article

Earlier this month, Dinsmore provided a notice to clients that several telehealth flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries were set to expire on December 31. However, on December 20, Congress passed the American Relief Act, 2025[1] (the “Act”), a short-term spending bill that keeps the government open through March. The Act includes provisions that extend Medicare telehealth flexibilities, including:

• Waiver of originating site and geographic restrictions, allowing telehealth services to be provided at any site in the U.S.
• Telehealth services can be provided by all eligible provider types.
• Permission for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Centers to provide telehealth services.
• In-person exams are not required within six months for behavioral health services.
• Allowance for audio-only telehealth services.

The flexibilities provided for the reimbursement of telehealth cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services in patient homes will still expire on December 31.

Dinsmore will continue to follow this legislation in 2025 as Congress debates whether these flexibilities will be extended further.  If you have questions, please contact your Dinsmore attorney.

[1] https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/hr10545/BILLS-118hr10545eh.pdf. See Sec. 3207.