Medicare telehealth payment rule flexibilities: planning for 2026

The end of the federal government shutdown replaced one expiration date with another for some telehealth services, according to policy of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Oct. 1 was the first day of the government shut down; separately, it also marked the end of Medicare telehealth rule flexibilities granted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and extended since then.

Those flexibilities remain in place through Jan. 30, 2025. There may be rule changes between now and then, but this month CMS published a new frequently asked questions update on telehealth policy. Organizations across health care, including the Medical Group Management Association and the American Telemedicine Association, have been spreading the word about what to expect at the end of January next year.

This slideshow presents a summary of that document along with suggestions for primary care physicians and their practice administrators to prepare for rule changes effective Jan. 30, 2025. All data come from “Telehealth FAQ Calendar Year 2026 – Updated 11/14/25.”