Center for Connected Health Policy

11/10/2025

The American Telehealth Association is looking for clarification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services on telehealth billing practices in the physician fee schedule final rule released last week.

A large health system told the ATA that the documentation burden in the rule would cost the health system $1 million a year, according to Alexis Apple, head of Federal Government Relations, ATA Action, and director of Federal Affairs for the ATA.

One health system told the ATA it would cost $1 million a year to comply with the billing mandates of the physician fee schedule final rule.

11/06/2025

Telehealth advocates and providers are urging Congress to let Medicare permanently pay for telehealth services as the longest government shutdown in U.S. history stretches into its second month.

More than 450 telehealth and provider organizations are pushing lawmakers to avoid another temporary extension of telemedicine flexibilities amid a historic government shutdown.

11/04/2025

The Latest on Licensure: Federal & State Cross-State Telehealth Policies + FINAL 2026 PFS RELEASED

As interest grows in adopting a federal approach to licensure, states are also increasing policy activity around out-of-state telehealth providers. PLUS - FINAL 2026 PFS RELEASED!

11/04/2025

Study shows benefits of telemedicine for people with type 1 diabetes

People with type 1 diabetes achieved significantly better long-term blood glucose when their levels were monitored by healthcare professionals in real time, via a sensor under the skin, and they received regular advice in their daily lives.

11/03/2025

The 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule boosts virtual care in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, but complicates reimbursement for providers using telehealth from alternate sites, like their homes.

10/31/2025

The government shutdown is in its fifth week with no clear end on the horizon. Meanwhile, Medicare telehealth flexibilities and a separate Medicare program offering patients hospital-level care at home both remain paused.

Mei Kwong, executive director of the Center for Connected Health Policy, said the simplest solution to renewing the telehealth waivers would be for Congress to vote separately on them.

It 'feels like you're taking a step back,' says one patient

10/30/2025

The government shutdown is in its fifth week with no clear end on the horizon. Meanwhile, Medicare telehealth flexibilities and a separate Medicare program offering patients hospital-level care at home both remain paused.

Mei Kwong, executive director of the Center for Connected Health Policy, said the simplest solution to renewing the telehealth waivers would be for Congress to vote separately on them.

Bill Swick, who has a rare degenerative brain disease, has lost access to virtual speech therapy due to the federal government shutdown.

10/28/2025

💫 It's Finally Back! CCHP’s 50-State Telehealth Policy Report - Fall 2025 Findings & Analysis

The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) is pleased to announce the release of its 2025 State Telehealth Policy Summary. Alongside the report, CCHP has also published a companion chart that outlines how states compare across a range of telehealth policies, as well as an infographic capturing the major findings. For those seeking state-specific details, the most up-to-date information can always be accessed and exported as a PDF directly from CCHP’s online Policy Finder tool. This edition reflects CCHP’s review of states conducted between late May and early September 2025. In some cases, states may have enacted significant legislation or implemented new policies after their respective review date; in which case, those changes will be reflected in future Policy Finder updates.

Just Released❗CCHP's 2025 50-State Telehealth Policy Summary Report, companion state chart outlining how states compare, and at-a-glance infographic

10/27/2025

The health system's hospital-at-home program is in limbo after the CMS waiver expired, with OSF having discharged all patients and redistributed staff amid the uncertainty.

The health system's hospital-at-home program is in limbo after the CMS waiver expired, with OSF having discharged all patients and redistributed staff amid the uncertainty.

10/24/2025

Access to telehealth could keep parents from missing work, reduce transportation issues if providers are far away, decrease student absenteeism, and streamline the system for seeing a physician for more common illnesses that are easily treated.

This Community Schools pilot is building infrastructure for health care to be delivered through schools, where children are every single day.

10/23/2025

CMS Telehealth Flexibilities and Government Shutdown Update: Continued Claims Hold And Further Resources

CMS directs MACs to continue to hold Medicare telehealth claims from October 1, 2025, and later amid shutdown. Behavioral telehealth stays largely intact.

10/22/2025

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Oct. 21 announced that it has instructed all Medicare Administrative Contractors to lift a hold and begin processing claims dated Oct. 1 and later for those paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, ground ambulance transport claims and federally qualified health center claims. This also includes lifting holds on telehealth claims that CMS can confirm are for behavioral health services. CMS directed all MACs to continue a temporary claims hold that began Oct. 1 for other telehealth services and acute Hospital Care at Home claims, as the shutdown approaches the start of a fourth week.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Oct. 21 announced that it has instructed all Medicare Administrative Contractors to lift a hold and begin processing claims dated Oct. 1 and later for those paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, ground ambulance transport claims and federally qu...