For practices that rely on telehealth—particularly in primary care, behavioral health, rural health, and safety‑net settings—this extension reduces near‑term uncertainty and allows for more confident planning.
Ongoing telehealth policy changes can be complex and fast‑moving. The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) is a trusted national resource that tracks federal and state telehealth developments. Practices can receive timely updates by signing up for CCHP newsletters at
Center for Connected Health Policy
As an update to last week’s developments, the Medicare telehealth waivers that expired on January 30, 2026 have now been formally extended. Congress passed H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, and the bill was signed into law last week. Importantly, the legislation retroactively covers the brief lapse period, restoring continuity to Medicare telehealth coverage.
This law extends key Medicare telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2027, preventing a return to permanent, pre‑pandemic Medicare telehealth policy. These waivers have been in place since 2020, when the COVID‑19 public health emergency began, and have been extended multiple times—often for short periods. This nearly two‑year extension provides greater stability for both providers and patients who rely on telehealth services.
Under the new legislation, the following Medicare telehealth waivers remain in effect through the end of 2027:
In addition, the Acute Hospital Care at Home Initiative has been extended through September 30, 2030, allowing participating hospitals to continue providing hospital‑level care in patients’ homes.
The legislation also includes several forward‑looking telehealth provisions that practices should be aware of:
Following enactment of this legislation, CMS has updated its Telehealth FAQ for Calendar Year 2026 to reflect the restored flexibilities and new expiration dates.
The CMS Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Guidance, most recently revised in December 2025, remains a primary reference source. However, it has not yet been fully updated to reflect the most recent legislative changes. Some elements—such as references to an in‑person mental health visit within six months—will require revision, as that requirement is now waived through the end of 2027.
At the same time, several telehealth policy changes finalized under the CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and reflected in the December 2025 MLN guidance remain in effect, as they were not addressed in H.R. 7148.
Key provisions from the existing MLN guidance that remain unchanged include:
The MLN guidance also continues to reflect payment for telehealth services furnished by FQHCs and RHCs through December 31, 2026. Because the broader waivers have now been extended through 2027, FQHCs and RHCs remain eligible under the general waiver authority rather than relying on a more limited carve‑out.
Separately, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has extended the telehealth prescribing waiver for controlled substances through December 31, 2026. This extension allows prescribing without a prior in‑person visit or meeting a statutory exception and represents a clean, one‑year continuation with no new requirements.
This policy continues to suspend the initial in‑person visit requirement under the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008. The DEA’s rules apply nationwide and are separate from state requirements and Medicare reimbursement rules. Longer‑term federal prescribing policy remains unresolved, and additional changes may emerge.
Your Northwest AHEC Practice Support Team is here to help practices interpret telehealth policy changes and understand how they affect workflows, billing, and patient access. We encourage practices to stay informed through trusted resources like CCHP and to reach out with questions.