Digital Minute: Key Provisions Regarding Telehealth Extension

By Walter Reiling, MD, system chief medical information officer, Premier Health; and Mandy Via, system director of access, referral management, and telehealth, Premier Health

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government implemented temporary waivers to expand telehealth services, ensuring continued access to care during a critical time. Initially set to expire on March 31, 2025, these waivers have been extended through September 30, 2025, following recent legislative actions.

Continued Key Provisions of the Telehealth Extension:

• Geographic and Site Flexibility: Medicare beneficiaries can receive telehealth services regardless of their geographic location, including from their homes. This removes the previous requirement for patients to be in rural areas or specific medical facilities to access telehealth services. 
• Expanded Provider Eligibility: A broader range of health care professionals, such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists, are authorized to offer telehealth services. 
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs): These facilities are permitted to serve as distant site providers for non-behavioral/mental telehealth services, allowing them to offer telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries. ​  
• Audio-Only Communication: Certain non-behavioral/mental telehealth services can be delivered using audio-only communication platforms, accommodating patients without access to video technology. ​  
• Behavioral/Mental Health Services: The requirement for in-person visits within six months of initiating a behavioral/mental telehealth service, and annually thereafter, has been waived through September 30, 2025. For FQHCs and RHCs, this in-person visit requirement is waived until January 1, 2026.

While this extension maintains critical access to telehealth services, it is temporary. Without further legislative action, these flexibilities will expire on September 30, 2025, potentially reverting telehealth policies to pre-pandemic regulations.

Advocacy efforts are ongoing to establish permanent telehealth policies that reflect the advancements and reliance on telehealth services observed during the pandemic. The goal is to ensure that telehealth remains integral to health care delivery, offering flexibility and accessibility to patients nationwide.

As you continue to provide high-quality care through a rapidly evolving health care landscape, we want to assure you that we are closely monitoring the federal telehealth flexibilities. As we approach the September 2025 deadline, we will continue communicating updates to ensure operational readiness.

Back to the April 2025 issue of Premier Pulse