Shutdown halts Medicare telehealth waivers
The federal shutdown prevented Congress from extending pandemic‑era Medicare telehealth flexibilities before their Sept. 30 expiration, temporarily halting reimbursement for many home‑based virtual visits. Providers are canceling or weighing unreimbursed appointments, and millions of Medicare fee‑for‑service patients nationwide — including Twin Cities seniors who cannot easily travel — are losing access to remote care while the shutdown continues.
Health
Government/Regulatory
📌 Key Facts
- Medicare’s expanded telehealth coverage began in 2020; Congress’ extension lapsed Sept. 30 amid funding talks, and the Oct. 1 shutdown blocked a renewal vote.
- Brown University data show more than 4 million Medicare fee‑for‑service beneficiaries used telehealth in the first half of 2025.
- Providers must decide whether to continue virtual visits without guaranteed reimbursement, disrupting continuity of care for older adults and patients with degenerative conditions.
📚 Contextual Background
- A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass appropriations bills or a continuing resolution to fund federal agencies, causing many federal services to pause and some employees to be furloughed.
- In 2020, during the COVID-19 public health emergency, Medicare expanded telehealth coverage to reimburse a wide range of telehealth visits, removed the geographic (rural) requirement, and allowed patients to access telehealth from their homes.
- Before the COVID-19 pandemic (prior to 2020), Medicare reimbursed telehealth services only under narrow circumstances, such as for patients in designated rural areas or when patients were located at eligible originating sites like hospitals and clinics.