AHCA/NCAL recently joined efforts with 344 health care, consumer, and technology organizations in sending a stakeholder letter requesting Congressional Leadership to act and ensure Medicare beneficiaries are able to access telehealth services after September 2025. In the letter, the organizations strongly support Congressional efforts in making Medicare telehealth access permanent, if that's not achievable currently, the letter urges Congress to approve the longest possible extension. At a minimum, a two-year extension is needed to ensure stability for patients, providers, and the health care system nationwide. Why This is Important
Without Congressional action before October 1, many AHCA/NCAL members and the residents they serve in skilled nursing facilities (SNF), assisted living (AL) communities, and residences for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) will lose important Medicare telehealth care access options including the following:
- Telehealth for medical care could again be limited to only rural and underserved geographic locations.
- Telehealth for medical care would no longer be available in a beneficiary’s home (such as an AL or ID/DD residence) nationwide.
- Telehealth for physical and occupational therapy and speech-language pathology services would no longer be available nationwide.
- More restrictive in-person requirements for telehealth access to certain mental health conditions would return, regardless of the proximity of the nearest mental health professional to the beneficiary.