Sponsor
Ro Khanna
Representative · D-CA
Representative · D-CA
The bill stabilizes and expands telehealth and remote prevention/rehab access for Medicare beneficiaries and underserved populations—improving convenience and access—while shifting costs onto Medicare/taxpayers, increasing administrative and implementation burdens, and raising some risks to oversight, quality, and privacy.
Medicare beneficiaries (especially seniors, rural and homebound patients) keep broad telehealth access including audio‑only options, preserving convenient care beyond temporary emergency rules.
Hospitals, clinics and clinicians get clearer billing and coding rules (standardized codes/modifiers, hospice telehealth marker, E/M guidance) that should streamline claims processing, audits, and program integrity over time.
Fixing the waiver expiration at March 31, 2025 gives hospitals, health systems, and CMS regulatory certainty to plan post‑waiver operations and restores standard statutory protections thereafter.
Taxpayers and Medicare finances may face higher costs because making telehealth flexibilities permanent and expanding online prevention programs (MDPP) and services can increase Medicare spending.
Some patients could experience lower quality or reduced clinical oversight if in‑person requirements are removed or services shift to online‑only delivery, potentially harming certain clinical outcomes.
New coding/modifier requirements (including hospice telehealth markers) and standardization raise risks of billing errors, claim denials, and administrative burden that could delay care or revenue for providers.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Makes many Medicare telehealth flexibilities permanent or extended, requires new billing modifiers/codes, enables online MDPP suppliers Jan 1, 2026, and mandates LEP telehealth guidance and clinician outreach.
Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make permanent certain telehealth flexibilities under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 21, 2025 by Ro Khanna · Last progress March 21, 2025
Makes many temporary Medicare telehealth flexibilities permanent or longer-lasting, removes several in-person requirements, and updates billing and payment rules to support audio-only and virtual care. Also requires HHS guidance and outreach to improve telehealth access for people with limited English proficiency, allows online-only Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program suppliers beginning Jan 1, 2026, and directs Medicare education on telehealth screening for medication-induced movement disorders.