Telehealth Updates

This article will provide the most recent updates to our previous post on telehealth coverage.

What You Need to Know

Although telehealth flexibilities expired on January 30, 2026, they were retroactively reinstated on February 3, 2026, after Congress passed the "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026." This budget package includes an extension of key Medicare telehealth waivers through December 31, 2027, including: 

• Removal of geographic requirements – the patient is not required to be in a rural area to receive telehealth services
• Expansion of originating sites – the patient is not required to be in a health facility when receiving telehealth services
• Expansion of eligible practitioners – additional providers are allowed to perform telehealth services, including physical and occupational therapists
• Expansion of audio-only services – audio-only telehealth services are eligible for reimbursement

What this Means for You

The telehealth flexibilities that have been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic were retroactively reinstated and are now extended until the end of 2027. Therefore, all Medicare beneficiaries can continue to receive orthotic and prosthetic prescriptions from telehealth visits with their treating physician, including any visits that occurred during the partial government shutdown starting on January 30. It is still possible that there will be changes again in the future, but the previous rules and regulations remain unchanged for at least another two years. We will continue to update you regarding any future developments as they become available.

For more information, review CMS's Telehealth FAQs.