CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
House Bill Would Make Medicare Telehealth Permanent, Drop In-Person Mental Health Visit Requirement
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Starting Oct. 1, 2025, Medicare telehealth would no longer be limited by where you live, making it easier to get care from home.
- The bill would expand what counts as an approved place for a telehealth visit and let federal health officials broaden which health professionals can provide telehealth when appropriate.
- It would remove the rule that required an in-person visit every 6 months for Medicare telemental health, helping people stay in therapy or counseling without extra trips.
- Native American health facilities would get added flexibility starting Jan. 1, 2026, so telehealth can work better through Indian Health Service and tribal clinics.
- The bill adds anti-fraud steps, including more oversight funding and tracking unusual billing patterns, while also pushing clearer public info and training for patients and providers.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
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.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
6 articlesHospitals, doctors face virtual care cliff with telehealth, hospital at home services on the line
Explains the looming Medicare telehealth expiration and cites the CONNECT for Health Act (S.1261) as a key bill to make flexibilities permanent, noting its cosponsor count.
Making telehealth flexibilities permanent is the right call
Advocacy piece explicitly backing the CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 (H.R. 4206 / S. 1261) and arguing Congress should prevent telehealth flexibility expirations.
CMA urges Congress to extend expiring Medicare telehealth coverage
Urges passage of H.R. 4206 (CONNECT for Health Act of 2025) to permanently lift Medicare telehealth restrictions as temporary flexibilities near expiration.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(203)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.