Is Medicare stopping telehealth in 2025?
Asked by: Lilla Mertz V | Last update: January 24, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (43 votes)
What are the changes for Medicare in 2025?
For the first time, beginning in 2025, the drug law, known as the Inflation Reduction Act, requires all Medicare prescription drug plans (Medicare Part D plans) — including both standalone Medicare prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage — to offer enrollees the option to ...
Is telemedicine going to end?
Without any congressional action, the telehealth world is set to revert back to a pre-COVID-19 framework on January 1, 2025, where specifically for Medicare patients, with few exceptions including some for rural areas, patients can no longer receive telehealth in their homes.
Will telehealth be extended?
H.R. 10545 extends certain telehealth flexibilities through March 31, 2025. These include: Removing geographic requirements and expanding originating sites for telehealth services.
What is the physician fee schedule cut for 2025?
The AMA strongly urged Congress to stop the 2.83% cut included in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) 2025 Medicare physician payment schedule, but Capitol Hill again failed to do so—marking the fifth straight year of cuts.
Congress Must ACT NOW to Save Medicare Telehealth Coverage
Will Medicare pay for telehealth in 2025?
Medicare patients can receive telehealth services for non-behavioral/mental health care in their home through March 31, 2025. There are no geographic restrictions for originating site for Medicare non-behavioral/mental telehealth services through March 31, 2025.
What is the CMS final rule for telehealth in 2024?
Before the COVID-19 PHE, only certain types of distant site providers could provide and get paid for telehealth. Through December 31, 2024, all providers who are eligible to bill Medicare for professional services can provide distant site telehealth.
How long will Medicare allow telehealth?
Through March 31, 2025, you can get telehealth services at any location in the U.S., including your home. Starting April 1, 2025, you must be in an office or medical facility located in a rural area (in the U.S.) for most telehealth services.
Are people still using telehealth?
Telemedicine health care has grown in the United States since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and will remain an integral part of medical care. Telemedicine is well received by many patients and health care providers but remains more accessible to certain groups of patients than others.
Does telehealth cost more?
At workloads <110, telehealth is more expensive than conventional care; at very low workloads (n=20), telehealth is around 20 times more expensive than conventional care per consultation; at high workloads (n=200), telehealth costs around 67% of conventional care per consultation.
What is the future of telemedicine?
Interest in telemedicine continues to rise, with online doctor consultations projected to increase by 13.7 million between 2024 and 2028, an 11.74% growth. This trend reflects a preference for cyber consultations, with over 50% of U.S. patients finding virtual visits more convenient than traditional ones.
Is Teladoc covered by Medicare?
Teladoc is free for L.A. Care Medi-Cal, L.A. Care Covered, L.A. Care Medicare Plus and PASC-SEIU Plan members. Pre-approval is not needed. Please note that Medi-Cal Members who have additional Medicare coverage may not be eligible, such as Full Dual CCI – Partial Dual Part B members.
What is the Ryan Haight Act?
Under the Ryan Haight Act of 2008, where controlled substances are prescribed by means of the Internet, the general requirement is that the prescribing Practitioner must have conducted at least one in-person medical evaluation of the patient. U.S.C. § 829(e).
What will happen to Medicare in 2026?
The Contract Year (CY) 2026 MA and Part D proposed rule aims to hold MA and Part D plans more accountable for delivering high-quality coverage so that people with Medicare are connected to the care they need when they need it.
Why are hospitals refusing Medicare Advantage plans?
Among the most commonly cited reasons are excessive prior authorization denial rates and slow payments from insurers. In 2023, Becker's began reporting on hospitals and health systems nationwide that dropped some or all of their Medicare Advantage contracts.
How much will Medicare cost in 2025 for seniors?
The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $185.00 for 2025, an increase of $10.30 from $174.70 in 2024. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries will be $257 in 2025, an increase of $17 from the annual deductible of $240 in 2024.
What is the biggest disadvantage to telehealth?
Telehealth Barriers. Some disadvantages of telehealth include limitations with performing comprehensive physical examinations, possibilities for technical difficulties, security breaches, and regulatory barriers.
Which states use telemedicine the most?
- California. California tops the list due to its robust digital infrastructure, extensive telehealth service offerings, and supportive state policies. ...
- New York. ...
- Texas. ...
- Florida. ...
- Pennsylvania. ...
- Virginia. ...
- Illinois. ...
- New Jersey.
What is the difference between telemedicine and telehealth?
While telemedicine refers specifically to remote clinical services, telehealth can refer to remote non-clinical services such as provider training, continuing medical education or public health education, administrative meetings, and electronic information sharing to facilitate and support assessment, diagnosis, ...
Is Medicare still paying for telehealth visits in 2025?
Telehealth policy updates
The Federal government took a range of steps to expedite the adoption and awareness of telehealth. Telehealth policies allow: Location. Medicare patients can receive telehealth services for non-behavioral/mental health care in their home through March 31, 2025.
How many therapy sessions does Medicare pay for?
Yes, Medicare does limit the number of counseling sessions, specifically under Medicare Part B. Initially, you're allowed up to 20 outpatient individual or group therapy sessions per year. However, it's important to note that further sessions may be authorized if deemed medically necessary by your healthcare provider.
Can doctors prescribe over telehealth?
The California Medical Association (CMA) applauds this extension, which will allow patients to continue to receive safe and effective care via telemedicine. CMA strongly supports a permanent extension of the flexibilities for physicians to prescribe controlled substances via telehealth with certain protections.
What is the Medicare final rule for 2025?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Nov. 1 released its calendar year 2025 final rule for the physician fee schedule. The rule will cut the conversion factor by 2.8% to $32.35 in CY 2025 compared to $33.29 in CY 2024.
What are the new Medicare codes for 2024?
For CY 2024, we're finalizing new coding (CPT codes 96202, 96203, 97550, 97551, and 97552) to make payment when practitioners train and involve one or more caregivers to assist patients with certain diseases or illnesses (such as dementia) in carrying out a treatment plan.
What is modifier 59?
Modifier 59 Distinct Procedural Service indicates that a procedure is separate and distinct from another procedure on the same date of service. Typically, this modifier is applied to a procedure code that is not ordinarily paid separately from the first procedure but should be paid per the specifics of the situation.