In updated FAQs on telehealth policies, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said virtual care visits that took place during the 44-day federal government shutdown are fully reimbursable.

The agency said, “CMS will continue to pay telehealth claims in the same way they had been paid before Oct. 1, 2025. Telehealth flexibilities will apply retroactively as if there hadn’t been a temporary lapse in the application of the telehealth flexibilities through Jan. 30, 2026.”

In addition, other questions and answers noted major changes that could take effect Jan. 31, 2026, if lawmakers defer action to expand telehealth.

For example, the question of: Do Medicare beneficiaries need to be located in a rural area and in a medical facility in order to receive Medicare telehealth services?”

The answer is that “through Jan. 30, 2026, beneficiaries can receive Medicare telehealth services anywhere in the United States and territories. Starting Jan. 31, 2026, except for behavioral health services, beneficiaries will generally need to be in a medical facility and in a rural area to receive Medicare telehealth services.”

Another change that could come without further legislation is for restrictions on the types of practitioners who can furnish Medicare telehealth services.

CMS said in the FAQs, “through Jan. 30, 2026, an extended range of practitioners may bill for Medicare telehealth services. Starting Jan. 31, 2026, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists can no longer furnish Medicare telehealth services.”

Waivers Are Restored

The legislation that ended the shutdown included the reinstatement of telehealth waivers. The waivers expired on Sept. 30 when the shutdown began, but the new agreement reinstates the telehealth flexibilities retroactively from Oct. 1, 2025, through Jan. 30, 2026.

For long-term care, the key waivers that were restored temporarily include:

-          Removal of the geographic limitations for medical telehealth services so they again can be furnished nationwide. 

-          Restoration of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology providers as eligible to furnish telehealth services, as mentioned above. 

-          Restoration of a delay in Medicare in-person requirement for mental health services furnished through telehealth or audio-only telecommunications technology.  

-          Restoration of the use of telehealth to conduct face-to-face encounters for hospice recertification purposes. 

The updated CMS FAQs cover many of these issues.

Permanent Fix Eyed

For the longer term, groups like the Alliance for Connected Care, which includes more than 450 organizations across healthcare, high-tech, and patient and provider advocacy groups, want Congress to enact a permanent fix for telehealth coverage for Medicare.

The Alliance said there has been too much uncertainty for all telehealth stakeholders, culminating of late with the cessation of services for Medicare patients during the current shutdown.

“Congress has extended telehealth flexibilities multiple times immediately prior to the looming deadlines. Unfortunately, failure to do so this year has led to an abrupt end to telehealth services for millions of Medicare beneficiaries,” the Alliance said. “This cycle of temporary fixes has resulted in patients and providers facing continued disruptions in care. Another short-term extension is unacceptable.”

Read the full slate of CMS FAQs at 11.13 TH FAQ.

Comments or questions? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.