Congress passes bill to fund government, extend telehealth flexibilities

On March 14, President Trump signed into regulation the “Full-Yr Persevering with Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025,” extending authorities operations for the subsequent six months. Regardless of advocacy from the American Academy of Sleep Medication and different medical societies in response to the doctor charge schedule proposed rule, congressional leaders didn’t embody language to handle the considerably diminished Medicare doctor reimbursements, and the finalized reimbursement charges will stay in place for 2025.

The regulation does, nonetheless, lengthen essential telehealth provisions for Medicare beneficiaries. These short-term flexibilities, launched initially in the course of the COVID-19 public well being emergency, had been set to run out March 31. They’ve now been prolonged by means of Sept. 30, permitting well being care suppliers to proceed providing digital care with out interruption.

Key Medicare Telehealth Coverage Extensions

Waiver of Geographic and Originating Website Restrictions

Medicare beneficiaries could proceed to obtain telehealth companies wherever in america, together with of their properties.
Sufferers don’t have to be in a rural space or medical facility to entry telehealth care.

Expanded Scope of Observe for Telehealth Suppliers

Any practitioner who can independently invoice Medicare for skilled companies could furnish telehealth.

Delay of In-Individual Necessities for Non-Behavioral/Psychological Well being Companies

Audio-only telehealth companies will stay permitted for Medicare sufferers in all areas.
By way of Sept. 30, 2025, an in-person go to inside six months of an preliminary Medicare behavioral/psychological telehealth service and yearly thereafter will not be required.

Whereas this extension offers short-term reduction, AASM continues to advocate for making the telehealth flexibilities everlasting to make sure long-term stability for sufferers and suppliers.

Please direct any questions relating to the “Full-Yr Persevering with Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025” to coding@aasm.org.