Center for Connected Health Policy

02/05/2026

The spending package includes a two-year extension for telehealth programs, and a five-year extension for home hospital programs. Now, advocates are seeking permanent reforms.

The spending package includes a two-year extension for telehealth programs, and a five-year extension for home hospital programs. Now, advocates are seeking permanent reforms.

02/04/2026

Telehealth flexibilities in Medicare and waivers that allow hospitals to deliver acute care in patients’ homes were reinstated on Tuesday after President Donald Trump signed legislation ending a partial government shutdown.

The funding package ends a partial government shutdown and enacts several healthcare policies, including preserving telehealth flexibilities in Medicare through 2027.

02/03/2026

Update on Medicare Telehealth Waivers ➕ CCHP’s Sr. Policy Guru Shares Insights on Important New Findings & Trends

02/03/2026

A short federal shutdown began after the House failed to vote on a Senate-approved funding package by the Jan. 30 deadline. Medicare telehealth and Hospital-at-Home programs have reverted to pre-pandemic rules during the lapse. House passage of funding package on Feb. 3, 2026 would restore coverage retroactively and extend telehealth flexibilities through 2027.

An expected short federal shutdown began after the House missed a funding deadline, delaying Senate-approved legislation that would restore Medicare telehealth through 2027.

02/02/2026

The federal government entered a partial shutdown on Saturday, allowing telehealth flexibilities in Medicare and waivers for acute hospital-at-home care to lapse.

The Senate passed a spending package Friday, but the measure is still awaiting House approval. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the partial shutdown should be brief.

01/30/2026

Programs that provide hospital care in the homes of Medicare beneficiaries are preparing to shut down services this weekend.

The uncertainty is due to the Senate’s struggle to advance a government spending package that also contains multi-year extensions for Medicare telehealth and hospital at home programs. Without extensions, most of these policies end Friday. These services encountered the same problem last fall, where they either had to scale back or stop entirely during the longest government shutdown in history.

Programs that provide hospital care in the homes of Medicare beneficiaries are preparing to shut down services this weekend.

01/29/2026

Partial government shutdown looms, threatening to stall health funding package, telehealth extensions

Six annual spending bills for the current budget year are awaiting action in the Senate this week, including a key appropriations package that would fund the Department of Health and Human Services through Sept. 30.

Six annual spending bills for the current budget year are awaiting action in the Senate this week, including a key appropriations package that would fund the Department of Health and Human Services | Legislation that includes funding for HHS and Medicare telehealth extensions is now in peril as Sena...

01/28/2026

The prospect of another government shutdown could result in the expiration of COVID-era telehealth flexibilities.

The government experienced a lengthy shutdown in November 2025, which ended with the passing of the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2026. That bill not only funded the government through Jan. 30, but it also extended the telehealth flexibilities to that date. Now, a further extension sits in limbo as congressional lawmakers spar along partisan lines.

The prospect of another government shutdown could result in the expiration of COVID-era telehealth flexibilities  The government experienced a

01/27/2026

Update on Extension of Telehealth Medicare Waivers - Proposed Extension Through 2027 Passes House

Proposed Extension through End of 2027 Passes House!

01/27/2026

The House passed the HHS funding bill last Thursday, including Medicare telehealth and hospital-at-home extensions. The Medicare telehealth flexibilities, including no geographic restrictions and expanded provider types, and hospital at home flexibilities will expire on January 30, following an extension in late 2025. Unless Congress acts, restrictions on location and provider types will return on January 31.

Six annual spending bills for the current budget year are awaiting action in the Senate this week, including a key appropriations package that would fund the Department of Health and Human Services | Legislation that includes funding for HHS and Medicare telehealth extensions is now in peril as Sena...

01/26/2026

CCHP has developed several telehealth resources created specifically for the Intellectually/Developmentally Disabled (IDD) community. This fact sheet highlights nine tips that can assist a provider in their telehealth visit with a patient with IDD.

01/23/2026

Congress is close to enacting a two-year authorization of Medicare telehealth services for older adults, renewing pandemic-era coverage in the nation’s largest government health insurance program.

Legislation passed Thursday by the U.S. House of Representatives provides some relief for older Americans covered by Medicare health insurance who have come to rely on their physicians getting paid for virtual visits since such reimbursements began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation that extends Medicare telehealth reimbursement for providers through Dec. 31, 2027 is headed to the U.S. Senate where passage is expected.

Congress is close to enacting a two-year extension of Medicare telehealth coverage after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to renew virtual care for seniors.