What are the final rules for telehealth in 2026?

Yes, Medicare telehealth flexibilities have been extended through December 31, 2027, under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026.

Key Details of the Extension

• Expiration Date: Broad Medicare telehealth rules are now authorized to last until December 31, 2027.
• Covered Locations: Patients can continue receiving telehealth services from their homes without geographic or location limits.
• Audio-Only Care: Phone-only consultations remain fully covered for individuals who lack video capability or internet access.
• Behavioral Health: Mental health telehealth services at home have permanent flexibilities that do not depend on the temporary 2027 expiration date.

What Happens After 2027

• Uncertainty for Some Providers: Starting January 1, 2028, certain specialized providers like physical therapists, occupational therapists, and audiologists may no longer furnish Medicare telehealth services unless Congress passes new legislation.
• Permanent Rules: Behavioral and mental health telehealth flexibilities remain permanently authorized.

Yes, key Medicare telehealth flexibilities are extended through December 31, 2027.

Overview of the Extension

• Legislation: Congress extended the rules under H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, signed into law on February 3, 2026.
• Duration: The temporary pandemic-era waivers and flexibilities run through the end of 2027.
• Official Guidance: You can review the details on the Telehealth Policy Updates page or read about Medicare Telehealth Insurance Coverage.

Key Rules Through 2027 and Permanent Changes

• Extended Through 2027: Home-based non-behavioral services without geographic restrictions, eligible provider types including FQHCs and RHCs, audio-only platforms for non-behavioral/mental care, and the waiver for in-person requirements prior to telemental health services all continue through 2027.
• Permanent Provisions: Home-based behavioral/mental health services and audio-only behavioral care remain permanent features of Medicare coverage.

Yes, most major health insurances, Medicare, Medicaid, and private plans still pay for telehealth services.

Medicare and Medicaid

• Original Medicare: Covers many virtual care and telehealth services from a patient's home through December 31, 2027, following federal legislative extensions.
• Medicaid: Telehealth is covered across every state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, though specific rules and eligible service types depend heavily on your local state guidelines.

Private and Commercial Insurance

• Coverage Mandates: Forty-one states and the District of Columbia enforce "coverage parity" laws, which legally require private health insurance plans to cover telehealth services if they cover the same services in person.
• Payment Rates: Only 22 states require "payment parity," meaning insurers must pay doctors the exact same rate for a virtual visit as an in-person one. Other states leave reimbursement amounts up to direct contracts between insurance companies and medical providers.

What You Will Pay

• Copays and Deductibles: You typically owe the same copay, coinsurance, or deductible for a virtual visit that you would pay for an office visit.
• Plan Restrictions: Insurers may require you to use specific software platforms, apps, or in-network virtual doctors to guarantee full coverage.

The five basic requirements for legally compliant telemedicine are consent, online prescribing rules, cross-state licensing, licensure compacts, and professional board standards.

Legal and Regulatory Requirements

• Consent: Document that the patient understands and agrees to the risks and benefits of virtual care.
• Online Prescribing: Follow rules for remote prescriptions, which often vary by state or require prior evaluations.
• Cross-State Licensing: Hold a valid medical license in the state where the patient is located.
• Licensure Compacts: Use multi-state agreements to make practicing across state lines easier.
• Professional Board Standards: Meet the rules and ethical codes set by medical boards.

Technical and Setup Essentials

If you also need the basic technical tools to run a visit, you will need:

• A stable high-speed internet connection
• Secure, HIPAA-compliant software or video tools
• Working hardware like a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a camera and microphone
• A private, quiet workspace for the provider
• Proper technical support or system maintenance

To be eligible for a Medicare-subsidised telehealth service in Australia, you generally must be registered in MyMedicare at the practice or have seen a doctor at that clinic in person within the last 12 months. You can check official guidelines on Services Australia.

Main Eligibility Pathways

You qualify for a Medicare rebate if you meet at least one of these two rules:

• MyMedicare: You are registered with MyMedicare at the clinic providing your telehealth call.
• In-Person Visit: You or another patient at your household saw a doctor face-to-face at the same practice in the past 12 months.

Common Exemptions

You do not need to meet the 12-month in-person rule if you fall into one of these groups:

• Infants under 12 months old
• People experiencing homelessness
• Residents in a declared natural disaster area
• Patients using an Aboriginal Medical Service
• People in COVID-19 isolation or quarantine
• Patients accessing specific services like mental health care, eating disorder treatment, or sexual health services