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Top Telehealth News
Telehealth Flexibilities Reinstated as Government Shutdown Ends (Source: Healthcare Dive) Flexibilities for Medicare telehealth coverage are back in place after Congress passed legislation to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history this week. The stopgap funding law, which was signed by President Donald Trump late Wednesday, reinstates the pandemic-era virtual care policies through Jan. 30. Those policies include changes like eliminating geographic restrictions for virtual care and allowing all eligible Medicare providers to offer telehealth. CMS Clarifies Telehealth Rules Following the Government Shutdown (Source: Healthcare IT News) The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released updated telehealth guidance that assures reimbursement for virtual care visits that occurred during the government shutdown from Oct. 1 through Nov. 13 and clarifies provider home address reporting requirements. "CMS's guidance is a welcome, commonsense step that spares providers needless red tape," Chris Adamec, executive director of the Alliance for Connected Care, told Healthcare IT News by email on Thursday. How New Laws Support Telehealth and Access to Health Care (Source: ASTHO) Telehealth strengthens the health system by reducing barriers to access to health care and extending services to underserved communities. Federal and state policies — many born out of the pandemic — have increased the use of telehealth by patients and providers. This includes expanded reimbursement to allow more providers to deliver telehealth services in more locations and through more modalities. This Health Policy Update summarizes recent federal and state laws and policies that impact telehealth delivery and access to care.
Study: Virtual Care Visits Dropped During the Shutdown(Source: HealthLeaders Media) While healthcare leaders are awaiting long-term clarity on telehealth policy, they’re at least getting a little bit of good news from CMS. At the same time, a new study finds that the waivers do have a significant impact on telehealth adoption, with a sharp drop reported in virtual care visits during the federal shutdown, when the waivers had expired.
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Recent TRC Resources
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| #TelehealthTuesday - Medicare Telehealth Waivers Extended (Created by CCHP) |
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| After agreeing to a deal to end the federal government shutdown, Congress passed a continuing resolution that would reopen the government, at least through January 30, 2026. Within the continuing resolution package was an extension of the Medicare telehealth waivers, which had previously expired on October 1, 2025. In the passed legislation, the telehealth waivers that had expired will now be extended through January 30, 2026.The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) released a writeup and accompanying resources detailing the extension of telehealth waivers. For more information, view the full writeup. |
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| Final Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) CY 2026 Factsheet (Created by CCHP) |
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On October 31, 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released their
final rule for the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). Each year, the agency uses the PFS
to update, change or introduce new policies that will impact the Medicare program for the
following year. Unless otherwise stated, the policies will typically go into effect the first of the
year. The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) created a factsheet reviewing the Final PFS for CY 2026 as it pertains to telehealth. For more information, view the full factsheet. |
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| Clarifications on Updated Medicare Telehealth Guidance (Created by CCHP) |
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| Relaunch of FQHC Medicaid Policies on Policy Finder (Created by CCHP) |
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| Telehealth Trends to Watch: A Quick Snapshot (Created by TTAC) |
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Digital health is moving quickly, and three major forces are shaping what comes next. The Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center (TTAC) put together a short breakdown in their latest YouTube video.  AI in TelehealthAI is now built directly into virtual care platforms—improving video quality, supporting documentation, and powering smarter remote monitoring. From gaze alignment to ambient note capture, AI is becoming the connective layer across digital care. Infrastructure & Funding (BEAD + RHT)Broadband expansion through BEAD will determine where digital care can truly function. And the Rural Health Transformation Fund is set to define sustainable rural telehealth models for the next decade. Consumer-Generated Health DataWearables, apps, and home devices are creating a rapidly growing stream of patient-generated data. It’s becoming central to chronic care and population health—even as policy and reimbursement try to keep pace. Catch the full overview in the video and stay tuned as these trends continue to reshape the future of telehealth. |
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| Innovation Watch - LEO Satellite Providers & Service Plans (Created by TTAC) |
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The Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center (TTAC) published a new Innovation Watch post on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite providers and service plans. LEO satellites are transforming how healthcare reaches underserved areas. By delivering low-latency, high-speed internet where fiber and traditional satellites can’t, LEO enables real-time telehealth, emergency response, and flexible backup for clinics and hospitals. Discover how this emerging technology is bridging the digital divide and expanding access to care. For more information, view the full post. |
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| NRTRC 2025 Regional Telehealth Survey Results (Created by NRTRC) |
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