Medicare telehealth flexibilities extended two more years under Senate bill

What does this do?

S 2709 extends through September 2027 a set of Medicare telehealth rules that were set to expire in September 2025. The extensions allow patients to receive care from home, permit phone-only visits, allow more provider types to offer telehealth, and remove the requirement for an in-person visit before receiving mental health telehealth care. The bill also extends a program letting some hospital patients recover at home and expands the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program to allow fully online participation.

Who does it affect?

Medicare enrollees are primarily affected, including Americans 65 and older, people with certain disabilities, rural residents, limited-English speakers, people with heart or lung conditions, and those at risk for type 2 diabetes. Health care providers delivering remote services, community health clinics, and hospice programs are also directly affected.

Why does it matter?

Without this bill, the loosened telehealth rules would have ended in September 2025, reverting Medicare patients to pre-pandemic access restrictions. The new anti-fraud provisions mean Medicare will apply additional scrutiny to medical equipment claims starting in 2028 when no prior patient-provider relationship exists.

Where does it stand?