Grassroots Action Center
Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-At Large) and Buddy Carter (R-GA-1) have introduced H.R. 7623, the Telehealth Modernization Act. This bipartisan legislation would extend the COVID-19–era telehealth policies through Dec. 31, 2026. These include expanding the definition of originating sites to include the home, permitting community health centers (CHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to bill Medicare for telehealth services, allowing more physicians to bill Medicare for telehealth visits, and allowing for telemental health visits to occur without a 6-month in-person requirement.
Unlike a similar bill passed by the House Ways and Means Committee, H.R. 7623 also ensures payment parity for all telehealth services billed to Medicare through 2026, which is essential for maintaining equitable access to care.
In 2021 and 2022, Congress passed legislation requiring Medicare to permanently extend the telehealth waivers for behavioral health services, with the exception of the 6-month in-person visit requirement. Without Congressional action, the 6-month in-person visit requirement will therefore again take effect after the end of this year.
This legislation currently has 19 bipartisan cosponsors and will be considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee in September. This represents the most likely vehicle for Congress to extend the Medicare in-person visit requirement waiver before it expires. Contact your legislators and tell them to support extending Medicare coverage for telehealth services! For the greatest impact, please personalize your message.
