Congress Aims to Extend and Expand Access to Telehealth Services

Congress' Subcommittee on Health of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce is advancing legislation to extend certain COVID-era telehealth flexibilities through 2026. Specifically, the bill would eliminate the geographic originating site restrictions on telehealth visits through 2026 and would maintain the expanded list of telehealth services. The legislation also aims to make the Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics' ability to provide telehealth services permanent in an effort to allow individuals who reside in rural areas access to healthcare that may otherwise be lacking. The bill would also continue Medicare’s hospital-at-home program through 2029 and aims to allow any healthcare provider who bills Medicare to offer telehealth services. For more information on the COVID-era expansion of telehealth services, visit Tax Facts Online. : Q 8828.