Medicare patients can continue to receive telehealth services from home for the next two years, thanks to the latest extension of popular waivers that were introduced during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- No geographic restrictions for telehealth services.
- Patients can receive telehealth services in their home.
- Telehealth services can be performed through an audio-only connection.
- Physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists can continue to provide telehealth services.
- The in-person visit requirement for mental/behavioral health services is on hold.
CMS quickly updated its
Telehealth FAQ document to reflect the new deadlines. The document also details permanent telehealth rule changes, such as direct supervision via a two-way, real-time audio/video connection (virtual direct supervision).
While the extension isn’t the permanent change that many people want, and only Congress can make, it does take the waivers out of the budget battle cycle for two years. That also gives individuals and advocacy groups time to work with their elected representatives.
Providers who issue prescriptions for controlled substances via telehealth should also remember that the HHS and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) extended the
in-person visit waiver until Dec. 31, 2026. The agencies continue to search for a rule that balances minimal patient disruption against concerns about diversion.
Finally, watch for more guidance on providing telehealth to limited-English proficiency patients. The new law requires the HHS Secretary to revise or create and issue guidance on best practices for providing telehealth services to patients who need a translator during treatment -- for example, how to integrate interpreters into telehealth appointments and improve the accessibility of patient portals.