Resources & Reports

As 2025 begins to wind down, we, at CCHP, like to take a look back and make note of the major changes that have occurred in telehealth policy throughout the year.  Upon reflection, we again find ourselves in a very similar place to where we were in December of 2024, when the Medicare telehealth waivers were set to expire on March 30, 2025. This year again leaves us in a state of uncertainty as, unless further action is taken, the Medicare telehealth waivers will now expire on January 30, 2026. Readers may unsurprisingly feel some anxiety around this rapidly approaching deadline, as the last time we were this close to an expiration date, the waivers actually expired and we found ourselves in the midst of the longest federal government shutdown in history, as well as a reversion back to the much more restrictive permanent Medicare telehealth policy.  In the deal that ultimately ended the shutdown, the Medicare telehealth waivers were again extended, this time to January 30, 2026.

As 2025 nears its end, the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) is releasing its annual roundup of state telehealth legislation.  This year, states continued refining telehealth policy across multiple areas, including Medicaid coverage, private payer requirements, licensure, prescribing, and professional practice standards. Increased attention to remote patient monitoring, clearer parameters for when audio-only is appropriate, data transparency, and artificial intelligence reflects a shift toward more detailed and clearly defined telehealth frameworks.

The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) has developed several new telehealth resources created specifically for the Intellectually/Developmentally Disabled (IDD) community.  Made possible through generous funding from the WITH Foundation, this series of resources aims to improve IDD patients and caregivers’ awareness and knowledge of telehealth including how it can be used to receive health services.  Resources were also developed to assist providers in providing IDD patients with a positive experience in their telehealth visits.

As families gather around tables filled with tradition and gratitude, we’re reminded how much access—whether to food, warmth, community, or care—shapes our wellbeing. In the telehealth world, access takes many forms. Recently, we’ve seen this reflected not only in the extensions of the Medicare telehealth waivers, but also in the DEA’s ongoing efforts to extend flexibilities around the in-person requirement for prescribing controlled substances. Once again, continued access to essential telemedicine services is at the forefront.

Last week, after agreeing to a deal to end the federal government shutdown, Congress passed a continuing resolution that would reopen the government, at least through January 30, 2026.  Within the continuing resolution package was an extension of the Medicare telehealth waivers, which had previously expired on October 1, 2025 (NOTE: The package contained several divisions, however the link provided in this newsletter only goes to the section containing the telehealth items).  In the passed legislation, the telehealth waivers that had expired will now be extended through January 30, 2026.