Key highlights of these extensions include:

• Broad Extensions of Telehealth Access: Many key Medicare telehealth flexibilities are extended through September 30, 2025, for both non-behavioral and behavioral health services. These extensions allow telehealth services to be provided in patients' homes nationwide, remove geographic restrictions on where patients can receive care, and maintain the expanded list of eligible providers. For a comprehensive list of all extended flexibilities, please consult the official resources from HHS and CMS.
• Provider Eligibility for All Specialties: All eligible Medicare providers can offer telehealth services during this extension period. Furthermore, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) will continue to function as distant site providers for both non-behavioral and behavioral health services through September 30, 2025. Notably, FQHCs and RHCs will permanently serve as distant site providers for behavioral health services.
• Flexibility in In-Person Visit Requirements: The in-person visit requirement for behavioral health services is temporarily waived through September 30, 2025, providing greater flexibility for accessing mental healthcare remotely. This flexibility extends further for FQHCs and RHCs until January 1, 2026. While this specific waiver focuses on behavioral health, the broader extension of telehealth modalities benefits various specialties.
• Expanded Use of Audio-Only Services: Medicare now permits both non-behavioral and behavioral telehealth services to be delivered using audio-only communication platforms. This expands access for patients who may not have access to reliable internet or video-enabled devices, ensuring they can still receive necessary healthcare.
• Strong Emphasis on Behavioral Health Access (with Permanent Changes): The policies continue to emphasize the critical role of telehealth in expanding access to behavioral health services. Various mental health providers can serve as distant site providers, and there are no geographic restrictions for telehealth access for mental healthcare, and these provisions for behavioral health are now permanent.