Center for Connected Health Policy

12/05/2025

A new study led by researchers at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, published Monday by JAMA Network Open, estimates that nearly 20% of U.S. residents who use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention—or more than 110,000 of the approximately 580,000 PrEP users nationwide in 2024—received their medication via telemedicine.

A new study led by researchers at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, published Monday by JAMA Network Open, estimates that nearly 20% of U.S. residents who use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention—or more than 110,000 of the approximately 580,000 PrEP users nationwid...

12/04/2025

A 24-week telehealth program combining long-acting anti-obesity medications (AOMs) with tailored virtual behavioral support lead to meaningful weight loss and blood pressure reductions among individuals with overweight or obesity.

Telemedicine prescriptions of semaglutide and tirzepatide, combined with a virtual behavioral program, yielded weight loss and lower blood pressure in individuals with overweight or obesity.

12/03/2025

The House of Representatives has voted to extend Medicaid waivers for the hospital at home program for five years, offering a longer extension for the pandemic-era program after a slew of short-term reprieves.

The bill, which passed the House unanimously on Monday, would waive certain requirements to enable hospitals to provide acute inpatient care in patients’ homes until Sept. 30, 2030. The waivers were previously set to expire on Jan. 30, 2026.

Hospital and telehealth groups applauded the bill’s passage. “This is a perfect example of how our government should work,” said Alexis Apple, director of federal affairs at ATA Action, the advocacy arm of the American Telemedicine Association, in a statement. The bill now heads to the Senate for voting.

The bill would waive certain requirements to enable hospitals to provide acute inpatient care in patients’ homes through 2030. It now heads to the Senate.

12/02/2025

A proposed five-year extension of the CMS Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCaH) waiver has passed the House and is headed to the Senate, while the DEA has indicated it will extend a waiver allowing for virtual prescribing of controlled medications.

12/01/2025

New research shows that asynchronous e-visits accounted for a high percentage of total initial visits for outpatient conditions, such as UTIs and acne, with low seven-day follow-up rates.

New research shows that asynchronous e-visits accounted for a high percentage of total initial visits for outpatient conditions, such as UTIs and acne, with low seven-day follow-up rates.

11/26/2025

Telehealth has become a significant modality in outpatient mental health care, with 27.8% of adults using it exclusively in 2021–2022. Higher socioeconomic groups, including employed and higher-income individuals, favor telehealth due to their financial resources and flexibility.

Telehealth has quickly become a central part of the mental health system among younger, higher-income, college-educated, and privately insured patients.

11/25/2025

As families gather around tables filled with tradition and gratitude, we’re reminded how much access—whether to food, warmth, community, or care—shapes our wellbeing. In the telehealth world, access takes many forms. Recently, we’ve seen this reflected not only in the extensions of the Medicare telehealth waivers, but also in the DEA’s ongoing efforts to extend flexibilities around the in-person requirement for prescribing controlled substances. Once again, continued access to essential telemedicine services is at the forefront.

On Nov. 10, 2025, the DEA posted a fourth temporary extension of the COVID-19 telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled substances. These flexibilities were set to expire at the end of the year. Although the DEA has not yet released the full text of the extension—including how long it ...

11/25/2025

An updated FAQ from CMS confirms retroactive reimbursement for telehealth services provided during the government shutdown and the elimination of the address reporting burden.

An updated FAQ from CMS confirms retroactive reimbursement for telehealth services provided during the government shutdown and the elimination of the address reporting burden.

11/24/2025

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued new guidance for telehealth providers impacted by the government shutdown.

While Congress stood at an impasse over the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, the body allowed other programs, like telehealth and the Acute Hospital Care at Home program, to temporarily lapse.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued new guidance for telehealth providers impacted by the government shutdown. | The CMS clarified that telehealth providers can submit any telehealth claims they held during the shutdown and fixed an outstanding technical issue on reporting....

11/21/2025

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released updated telehealth guidance that assures reimbursement for virtual care visits that occurred during the government shutdown from Oct. 1 through Nov. 13 and clarifies provider home address reporting requirements.

The agency confirmed that eligible Medicare telehealth reimbursements would be processed retroactively for virtual visits, and cleared up confusion on provider home address reporting requirements.

11/20/2025

Telehealth strengthens the health system by reducing barriers to access to health care and extending services to underserved communities. Federal and state policies — many born out of the COVID-19 pandemic — have increased the use of telehealth by patients and providers. This includes expanded reimbursement to allow more providers to deliver telehealth services in more locations and through more modalities. This Health Policy Update summarizes recent federal and state laws and policies that impact telehealth delivery and access to care.

Learn how federal and state policies are improving access to health care by supporting telehealth.

11/19/2025

Congress restores Medicare telehealth and Hospital-at-Home flexibilities through Jan. 30, 2026: The extension, signed into law Nov. 12, reverses the lapse in coverage that began Oct. 1 and ensures continued access to virtual and home-based care.

Key Takeaways Congress restores Medicare telehealth and Hospital-at-Home flexibilities through Jan. 30, 2026: The extension, signed into law Nov. 12, reverses the lapse in coverage that began Oct. 1 and ensures continued access to virtual and home-based care.