A Republican bill with 9 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Telehealth Modernization Act extends various Medicare telehealth flexibilities through September 30, 2027. This includes removing geographic requirements, expanding eligible practitioners, and allowing audio-only services. It delays in-person requirements for mental health services and expands telehealth use for hospice recertification. Additionally, it extends the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver until 2030 and includes new fraud prevention measures for durable medical equipment. The bill also provides for better telehealth access for people with limited English proficiency and expands virtual options for diabetes prevention and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.
Yes· 3 of 22
- Scored +9
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
Directly benefits Medicare beneficiaries by expanding access to virtual and home-based care.
- Scored +9
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Removal of geographic requirements and support for rural health clinics is a primary focus.
- Scored +9
Would retired people be better off under this?
Extends critical Medicare flexibilities for the primary demographic of retirees.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Increased Access to Care: By removing geographic requirements and expanding originating sites through September 30, 2027, more people can access telehealth regardless of their location (Section 2(a)).
- Mental Health Support: The bill delays the requirement for in-person visits for mental health services until October 1, 2027, making it easier for people to receive psychiatric care remotely (Section 2(d)).
- Flexible Communication: The extension of audio-only telehealth services until September 30, 2027, benefits those who may not have access to high-speed internet or video technology (Section 2(e)).
- Support for Non-English Speakers: The Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue guidance on best practices for using interpreters and providing multi-language materials during telehealth appointments (Section 6).
- Diabetes Prevention: Individuals can now enroll in the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program via online services regardless of whether they are in the same state as the provider, with no limit on the number of times they can enroll (Section 8).
- Home-Based Recovery: Patients can receive cardiopulmonary rehabilitation in their homes via audio and video technology through January 1, 2027 (Section 7).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Hospice Restrictions: Telehealth for hospice recertification is now prohibited for individuals in areas with a moratorium on hospice program enrollment or those receiving care from providers under enhanced oversight (Section 2(f)).
- Increased Oversight for Equipment: Starting January 1, 2028, certain durable medical equipment may be flagged for "aberrant billing patterns" if the ordering physician has not treated the patient in the previous 24 months, which could lead to prepayment reviews and potential delays in receiving equipment (Section 5(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would retired people be better off under this? — Extends critical Medicare flexibilities for the primary demographic of retirees. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Removal of geographic requirements and support for rural health clinics is a primary focus. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Directly benefits Medicare beneficiaries by expanding access to virtual and home-based care. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Home-based rehab and telehealth options greatly improve access for those with mobility impairments. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Audio-only options and expanded telehealth reduce travel costs for low-income patients. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Significant benefit from removal of geographic restrictions in rural areas. Would farmers be better off under this? — Improved access via rural health clinics and remote telehealth services. Would high-income households be better off under this? — Increases convenience and accessibility of healthcare services. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Direct benefit from guidance on interpreters and multi-language materials for telehealth. Would immigrants be better off under this? — Guidance on interpreters and multi-language materials aids non-native English speakers. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Increases convenience and accessibility of healthcare services. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Improved access for limited English speakers and rural populations. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Improved access for limited English speakers and rural populations. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Increased flexibility in choosing providers and virtual care options. Would white Americans be better off under this? — General increase in healthcare accessibility.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Extends wide-ranging telehealth flexibilities, including removal of geographic restrictions. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — Delays in-person visit requirements for mental health services through 2027.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — Increases access via audio-only services and in-home rehabilitation for those with mobility issues. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Provides guidance for improving telehealth access for individuals with limited English proficiency.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Increases oversight to prevent fraudulent billing for medical equipment. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Includes new fraud prevention and oversight measures for durable medical equipment billing.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Extends telehealth services specifically for rural health clinics.
- 10/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/3/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/17/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/14/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/17/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/2/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Herbert ConawayDemocrat · New Jersey
Debbie DingellDemocrat · Michigan
Glenn IveyDemocrat · Maryland
Julie JohnsonDemocrat · Texas
Stephen LynchDemocrat · Massachusetts
Sam LiccardoDemocrat · California
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Deborah RossDemocrat · North Carolina
Josh RileyDemocrat · New York