Digital Minute: Telehealth Update

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

During the pandemic and after the declaration of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) ending, several key telehealth flexibilities were enacted to continue patient access to care through telehealth technology. These provisions, initially introduced during the COVID-19 PHE, were set to expire on December 31, 2024.

After a tumultuous few days in late 2024, Congress enacted the American Relief Act, 2025 (ARA), extending key Medicare telehealth flexibilities through March 31, 2025

Key Extensions:

• Geographic and Originating Site Flexibilities: Medicare patients can receive telehealth services for non-behavioral/mental health care in their home through March 31, 2025.
• Expanded Practitioner Eligibility: A broader range of health care providers remain authorized to offer telehealth services to Medicare patients.
• Audio-Only Telehealth Services: The allowance for audio-only telehealth consultations continues, benefiting patients without access to video-capable devices or high-speed internet.
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs): These centers can continue providing telehealth services, ensuring that underserved and rural populations maintain access to essential health care.
• In-Person Requirements for Mental Health Services: The mandate for an in-person visit within six months before a telehealth mental health service has been deferred until April 1, 2025, facilitating uninterrupted mental health care via telehealth.
• Hospice Care Recertification: Telehealth remains a valid method for conducting face-to-face encounters required for hospice care recertification, streamlining processes for patients and providers.

At Premier Health, our telehealth volume continues to grow yearly as we leverage telehealth technology to extend how we connect with patients. Through new programs, we’ve created access and operational efficiencies by expediting access with telehealth. In 2024, we saw more than 181,000 telehealth encounters. Patients seek telehealth to receive health care on demand and a convenient schedule.

With the March 2025 deadline approaching, Congress will be required to take action to provide extensions or put permanent changes in place to minimize disruption to care.

Back to the February 2025 issue of Premier Pulse