Center for Telehealth and eHealth Law (CTeL)

Telehealth isn’t just healthcare—it’s a lifeline for working families, businesses, and our economy. Keeping America working means keeping telehealth accessible. US Congress, the time to act is now. Include telehealth in the CR today! #KeepAmericaWorking #SaveTelehealth 

Congress Passes the American Relief Act, 2025—Key Telehealth Provisions Extended for 90 Days. After a week of high-stakes negotiations, the American Relief Act, 2025 has passed, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown. This crucial legislation not only sustains essential healthcare programs but also ensures the continuation of critical telehealth services—for now. Here’s what you need to know about the telehealth provisions included: Expanded Access (Section 3207): ✔️ Geographic restrictions are lifted, allowing Medicare beneficiaries to access telehealth from anywhere—including their homes. ✔️ More healthcare professionals, such as physical and occupational therapists, can deliver telehealth services. ✔️ Audio-only services remain reimbursable, ensuring accessibility for patients without video-capable devices. Hospital-at-Home Flexibilities (Section 3208): The Acute Hospital Care at Home Waiver is extended, enabling hospitals to deliver inpatient-level care in patients' homes. The Challenge? These provisions have only been extended for 90 days. While this is a small win for patients and providers in the short term, it’s not the long-term solution we need. Shortened timelines create uncertainty for millions who depend on these services. What’s Next? Now, more than ever, we must advocate for the permanent adoption of telehealth flexibilities. Research and data are critical in making the case to Congress. That’s why CTeL is committed to advancing telehealth research, providing policymakers with the evidence they need to make informed decisions. Let’s work together to ensure telehealth remains a cornerstone of modern healthcare—accessible, equitable, and here to stay. Learn more about how you can support telehealth research and advocacy: https://lnkd.in/ey8tedvH #SaveTelehealth #HealthcareInnovation #HealthPolicy

Live Update: Our internal sources have told us that we can expect the following in "plan c" the negotiations. The larger package will be broken up into 3 separate pieces: 1. CR Extensions: Until March 2025: Meaning telehealth waiver extensions only until March 2025 with no PBM inclusion. 2. Appropriate Disaster Relief 3. Allocations for the Farm Bill Excluded from this plan is the increase to the debt ceiling previously requested by Donald Trump. GOP leaders are expected to meet at 12:30 PM ET. "The sources cautioned that the proposal is not set in stone because Republican leadership still has to present it to the entire GOP conference." Check back for more updates as they roll in.

At CTeL, we don’t just advocate—we meme business when it comes to securing the future of telehealth (see what we did there?) The Wait-and-See Game Continues. Today feels like a season finale cliffhanger no one asked for. Will Congress deliver a clean Continuing Resolution, safeguarding access to telehealth and critical healthcare services? Or are we staring down yet another round of uncertainty for providers and patients? For months, we’ve championed the importance of extending telehealth flexibilities and Hospital Care at Home waivers—lifelines that have transformed healthcare accessibility and innovation. Yet here we are, waiting to see if they’ll stay or go in a funding standoff. This “wait and see” approach may work for TV dramas, but it’s no way to address healthcare policy. Providers can’t build workflows on “maybe,” and patients deserve better than “we’ll see.” 📣 Now is the time for decisive action. 💡 Let’s remind policymakers what’s at stake: healthcare access, patient safety, and innovation. Whether today ends with clarity or more uncertainty, one thing is clear: the drive for sustainable healthcare solutions continues. What’s your take—will it be a clean CR, or is telehealth about to hit another speed bump? Share your thoughts below ⬇️ #Telehealth #HealthcarePolicy #ContinuingResolution #AccessToCare

A morning vote is expected on Plan C for the American Relief Act of 2025 which previously included a two-year #telehealth extension but has since been decreased to 90-days. "Yeah, yeah, we have a plan,” Speaker Johnson said Friday morning as he entered the Capitol. “We’re expecting votes this morning, so you all stay tuned. We’ve got a plan.”- Source: Thehill.com Stay tuned for updates as they roll in. https://lnkd.in/eRenysqh #savetelehealth #govtshutdown #americanreliefact25

The redrafted version of the American Relief Act of 2025 is said to be voted on at 6:00 PM ET. Grab your popcorn, "must see tv" has nothing on this jazz! Here is the good-ish news: The key telehealth provisions included in the first draft, they're still there, but instead of the two-year previous extension...we're down to 90 days. ✔️ Geographic Flexibility: Patients can continue accessing telehealth services from their homes, regardless of location. ✔️ Expanded Provider Eligibility: Physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other providers remain eligible to deliver telehealth services. ✔️ Behavioral Health Services: In-person requirements for telehealth behavioral health visits remain waived, ensuring continued access to critical care. ✔️ Audio-Only Services: Audio-only telehealth visits will still be reimbursed for eligible conditions, supporting patients without broadband access. ✔️ Payment Parity: Telehealth services will be reimbursed at the same rate as in-person care through December 31, 2025 (hooray a year) Here is the "eh" news: While the original draft proposed a five-year extension, the Hospital Care at Home waiver has only been extended through March 2025. This shorter timeline highlights the need for advocacy to ensure hospitals can sustain these innovative care models. We remain committed to providing you with the tools, resources, and advocacy support needed to navigate this evolving landscape. Don't change that channel! Stay tuned for more updates as they roll in. Together, we’re shaping the future of telehealth. https://lnkd.in/eAqMmbsg

We've spent the last few weeks poking fun with cheeky memes and videos as we approach the expiration deadline, but at the end of the day, we are serious in our drive, efforts, and advocacy toward an equitable, accessible, forward-thinking healthcare system that brings quality care where, when, and how it is needed. But we still love a good meme and are hopeful telehealth is truly #savedbythebell... Stay tuned to CTeL for the latest updates as we watch and wait...but if you need us, you can reach us on our Zack Morris-sized cell phone. https://lnkd.in/ebrbcNJA

CTeL 2024 Policy Wrap-Up Turn your videos into live streams with https://restream.io 2024 Policy Wrap-Up

🌟 Breaking News: Telehealth Flexibilities Receive a Two-Year Extension Push! Phew y'all- we made the cut! Congress has taken a significant step forward by including a two-year extension of #telehealth flexibilities in the year-end budget bill. While this is a critical victory for patients and providers alike, the journey toward making telehealth a permanent fixture in U.S. healthcare isn’t over. 🔍 Dive into our latest article, “The Future of Telehealth: Why a Two-Year Extension is Crucial, but Permanency is Essential,” to explore: ✅ What the congressional budget bill means for Medicare beneficiaries. ✅ Key provisions, including hospital-at-home programs and broadband expansion. ✅ Why permanent legislation by 2027 is essential for ensuring seamless access to care. Telehealth shouldn’t have an expiration date—it’s time to build a future where virtual care is accessible to all. 📖 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eDU7c36q What are your thoughts on the two-year extension? #Telehealth #HealthcareAccess #PolicyUpdate #DigitalHealth #Medicare #CTeL

We have some ideas about what #congress SHOULD do… pass that #telehealth waiver extension and let us quit stress eating as we get closer and closer to the deadline. #savetelehealth The clock is still ticking, rumors are spreading, and "sources are confirming" agreements and negotiations...but still, we wait crossing every finger, and wishing on every star we see. Let's do this. https://lnkd.in/eudSg88G