Telehealth Medicare Waivers Extended Through 2027

Great news! Congress just approved a full-year FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations package. This means we officially have a two-year extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2027! The bill passed both the House and Senate and the President’s has officially signed, ending a brief partial government shutdown.

As with the last shutdown, the new language is expected to apply retroactively and cover this previous lapse period.  This deal will restore continuity to Medicare telehealth coverage and avoid a prolonged return to permanent, pre-pandemic policy. The extension will maintain key flexibilities, including expanded originating sites, geographic waivers, and eligibility for certain providers that would otherwise be unavailable under permanent Medicare telehealth rules.

This is not the first time Medicare telehealth policy has hinged on broader appropriations negotiations. A similar situation occurred in October and early November 2025, when Congress ultimately passed a continuing resolution (H.R. 5371) that retroactively extended the waivers after a brief lapse. This extension provides greater stability than the short-term extension enacted in November, which lasted only two months, as the waivers are now set to remain in place for nearly two years.  For more information on the extension, read the full text of H.R. 7148.