Telehealth Modernization Act

This bill keeps many Medicare telehealth options in place longer. It extends key flexibilities through September 30, 2027, including letting people get care from home or outside rural areas, expanding which clinicians can see patients by video, and allowing audio‑only visits when needed. It also delays the in‑person visit rule for tele-mental health until October 1, 2027, and keeps community health centers and rural clinics doing telehealth with clear payment rules in 2026–2027 . Hospice recertification visits done by telehealth must be flagged with a special claim note (a “modifier”) . The bill continues the Hospital‑at‑Home waiver and orders a detailed federal study comparing safety, quality, and costs, with a report due by September 30, 2028 . It also directs HHS to issue best‑practice guidance to make telehealth easier for people with limited English proficiency, such as using interpreters and providing multi‑language instructions and portal access .

To fight fraud, Medicare can add certain high‑risk durable medical equipment to a watch list and review claims before paying, starting January 1, 2028, and the Inspector General must report on lab test fraud risks by January 1, 2026 . The bill also supports care at home by allowing in‑home cardio‑pulmonary rehab under Medicare, and it lets fully virtual Diabetes Prevention Program suppliers operate nationwide from 2026–2030, with no cap on how many times someone may enroll .

• Who is affected | What changes | When
• Medicare patients (including mental health) | More telehealth options, including audio‑only; in‑person tele‑mental health rule delayed | Through 9/30/2027 for most telehealth; mental health delay until 10/1/2027
• Community health centers and rural clinics | Continue telehealth; specific payment rules for 2026–2027 | 10/1/2025–9/30/2027 payment period
• Hospice patients | Telehealth allowed for recertification visit with a claim modifier | During the extended telehealth period
• Hospitals using Hospital‑at‑Home | Waiver extended; federal study and report required | Study/report due by 9/30/2028
• People with limited English proficiency | HHS must issue telehealth language‑access guidance | Within 1 year of enactment
• DME suppliers and labs | Stronger fraud checks; OIG lab fraud report | DME changes start 1/1/2028; OIG report by 1/1/2026
• Heart/lung rehab patients | In‑home rehab options under Medicare | Upon HHS program instruction
• Diabetes Prevention Program suppliers and participants | Fully virtual programs allowed; no enrollment limit | 1/1/2026–12/31/2030