{"id":10252,"date":"2025-10-04T21:18:33","date_gmt":"2025-10-05T05:18:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/inedc.com\/26\/?p=10252"},"modified":"2025-10-04T21:18:33","modified_gmt":"2025-10-05T05:18:33","slug":"congress-urged-to-extend-medicare-telehealth-as-flexibilities-lapse-local-providers-warn-of-canceled-visits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/inedc.com\/26\/government\/congress-urged-to-extend-medicare-telehealth-as-flexibilities-lapse-local-providers-warn-of-canceled-visits\/","title":{"rendered":"Congress urged to extend Medicare telehealth as flexibilities lapse; local providers warn of canceled visits"},"content":{"rendered":"

PLACERVILLE, Calif. \u2014 A bipartisan group of 70 House members led by Reps. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena), Troy Balderson (R-Ohio) and Doris Matsui (D-West Sacramento) on Sept. 30 urged House and Senate leaders to extend Medicare telehealth flexibilities \u2014 a step advocates say is needed to prevent widespread disruption to virtual care for older Americans. The lawmakers issued a letter calling for an immediate extension and for Congress to act to preserve access while longer-term legislation advances.<\/p>\n

The request came as several pandemic-era Medicare telehealth authorities expired Sept. 30, returning many Medicare telehealth rules to their pre-COVID status unless Congress restores them. That means, for most services, Medicare will again limit telehealth reimbursement by geography and originating-site rules, and some practitioners who had been eligible to bill for virtual care will no longer be authorized.<\/p>\n

Advocates and provider groups warned the lapse is already causing operational chaos. The American Telemedicine Association\u2019s advocacy arm, ATA Action, told congressional leaders that the flexibilities \u201chave been in place since 2020 and their lapse is creating widespread concern for providers and patients.\u201d The ATA asked Congress to reinstate the flexibilities immediately and to provide retroactive reimbursement so providers who continue to deliver care are not left unpaid.<\/p>\n

Providers nationwide have begun canceling or warning patients about telehealth visits because reimbursement and legal authority to bill Medicare are uncertain, according to reporting from Roll Call and Axios. Smaller clinics and rural providers, in particular, say they may not be able to sustain unpaid virtual visits.<\/p>\n

Why this matters in El Dorado County<\/strong>
Local health systems and clinics that expanded virtual care during the pandemic say telehealth remains an important access point for seniors and patients with mobility or transportation barriers. Marshall Medical Center \u2014 the county\u2019s largest health system, with clinics in Placerville and El Dorado Hills \u2014 advertises video visits for annual wellness checks, medication follow-ups and chronic-disease management. Community clinics in the county also use telemedicine to connect patients with specialists. If Congress does not restore the flexibilities, many Medicare patients in El Dorado County could face canceled telehealth appointments or be required to travel for in-person care. Marshall<\/span>+1<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

National context and legislative options<\/strong>
Telehealth authorities were first loosened during the COVID-19 public-health emergency and have been extended multiple times. National medical organizations \u2014 including the American Medical Association and the California Medical Association \u2014 have pushed for permanent fixes such as the CONNECT for Health Act to remove geographic limits and permanently expand which practitioners can bill Medicare for telehealth. The ATA and dozens of provider groups urged Congress to enact the longest possible extension (some advocacy letters asked for a multi-year extension) and to make reimbursement retroactive for services provided during the lapse.<\/p>\n

What patients should know now<\/strong><\/p>\n