All Eyes on Telehealth as Federal Shutdown Continues
The first casualty of the federal government shutdown could very well be the widespread provision of telehealth that began shortly following the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Absent Congressional action, beginning October 1, 2025, many of the statutory limitations that were in place for Medicare telehealth services prior to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency will take effect again for services that are not behavioral and mental health services,” a MLN Connects post issued earlier this week read. “These include prohibition of many services provided to beneficiaries in their homes and outside of rural areas and hospice recertifications that require a face-to-face encounter. In some cases, these restrictions can impact requirements for meeting continued eligibility for other Medicare benefits.”
What HIM Professionals Can Expect from the Government Shutdown
It’s an unsettling time for all of us. Unfortunately, our federal government has once again reached an impasse, unable to agree on a long-term budget solution for fiscal year (FY) 2026. Instead of stability, we face temporary stopgaps – sometimes for months, sometimes for just a single day. As a result, we now contend with the ripple effects, including thousands of “non-essential” government employees being sent home.