Hurray! Congress has officially passed a continuing resolution to reopen the federal government. Included in that package was an extension of the Medicare key telehealth flexibilities first put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. This extension is temporary, however, and will last only through January 30, 2026. Additionally, it is important to note that these waivers are retroactive to September 30, 2025. This means any interactions that took place from October 1, 2025 through the end of the federal shutdown but were not eligible for coverage/payment under permanent telehealth policy are now be eligible under federal law.
Thanks to our friends and collaborators at the Center for Connected Health Policy, we have a convenient chart that breaks down these waivers specifically.
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Understanding the Changes
October 2025 has been a whirlwind of confusion and updates for Medicare telehealth waivers in the wake of the federal government shut down. After Congress failed to pass a FY 2026 spending bill as of October 1, 2025 this officially expired key telehealth flexibilities first put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While Congress continues to negotiate a government funding package that my reinstate some of these flexibilities, permanent statutory restrictions are now in effect. To help navigate all the circulating information, we’ve compiled the best resources to follow for live updates during the shutdown.
Center for Connected Health Policy
The Center for Connected Health Policy has created several resources to aid providers and stakeholders navigating the expiration of these key telehealth flexibilities. A Medicare Waiver Expiration & Telehealth FAQs was designed to address the most common questions CCHP has received through its technical assistance channels in recent weeks. Additionally, a chart, Telehealth Medicare Policies Post-September 30, 2025, that outlines current Medicare telehealth policy and aims to provide a quick reference point when interpreting evolving policy.
Their recent newsletter reviews the new CMS guidance that was also issued to clarify the handling of Medicare Telehealth claims. View all their past newsletters and subscribe to stay apprised of all the latest shutdown news!
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Through their MLN Connects Newsletter for October 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issues clarifications regarding Medicare telehealth services during the federal shutdown.
NCTRC Unwinding of the PHE
The National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers (NCTRC) has created a webpage titled Unwinding of the Public Health Emergency, which addresses the impending changes to Medicare telehealth services now that key telehealth flexibilities have expired. The page offers strategies for healthcare providers, policymakers, and stakeholders to prepare for these shifts and stay informed! Additionally, on this page you can find the resource The Telehealth Policy Cliff: Preparing for October 1, 2025 which outlines key impacts, including but not limited to…
- The Return of Physical and Geographic Locations
- The End of the Hospital at Home Waiver
- Implications on Prescribing Controlled Substances
- Implications on Provider Eligibility
- Implications for FQHCs and RHCs
- Implications for Telemental Health Services
This essential resource will be updated every week! Subscribe to the SCTRC or NCTRC newsletters to stay up-to-date on all changes.
Latest Billing Guides for the South Central Region
The quarterly updates for the Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi Virtual Visit Billing Guides are now available! Payors were fairly quiet this past quarter, but with 2026 on the horizon, we can expect some shifts when CMS releases finalized 2026 telehealth guidance.
CMS has released the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule (CMS-1832-P), which includes several important telehealth changes detailed below. Remember, this is still a proposed rule, the final version will be published in November, and some details may change.
