The American Relief Act of 2025 brings excellent news for healthcare providers and patients relying on telehealth services. Key provisions of Section 3207 extend critical telehealth flexibilities that have improved access to care over the last few years. Hereโs a summary of whatโs changing:
โข ๐๐ฒ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ: Restrictions on originating sites and geographic requirements for telehealth services are waived until March 31, 2025. This ensures patients can continue to receive care from the comfort of their homes or other convenient locations.
โข ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐: The range of practitioners authorized to provide telehealth services under Medicare has been broadened through March 31, 2025.
โข ๐๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฆ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐: Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) can continue serving as distant site providers until March 31, 2025. For services rendered in 2025 and 2026, they will be reimbursed through existing payment structuresโthe FQHC Prospective Payment System or the RHC all-inclusive rates.
โข ๐๐ป-๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐พ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ-๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ: Requirements for in-person visits before accessing tele-mental health services are postponed until April 1, 2025, allowing patients to maintain consistent care with fewer barriers.
โข ๐๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐ผ-๐ข๐ป๐น๐ ๐ง๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐: Recognizing the importance of accessibility, the allowance for audio-only telehealth services has been extended through March 31, 2025.
โข ๐๐ผ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ง๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต: Providers can use telehealth for face-to-face encounters required for hospice care eligibility recertifications until March 31, 2025.
These extensions reflect a continued commitment to leveraging telehealth to improve access to care across urban, rural, and underserved areas. Patients and providers alike will benefit from these provisions as we build on the lessons learned during the pandemic.
Are you already leveraging telehealth in your practice? How will these extensions impact your services or patient care? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
Resource: H.R.10545 – American Relief Act, 2025 – Sec 3207
Did you find this post helpful? Please share our post or leave a comment with your thoughts!
Weโd love to hear from you!
