HEALTH Act of 2025
House Bill Would Make Medicare Telehealth Payments Permanent for Community Health Centers
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Makes Medicare telehealth payments permanent for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics when they serve patients remotely.
- Says a telehealth visit can be done by video or by audio-only (like a phone call), as long as it’s two-way and real-time.
- Removes location rules that can block telehealth, so these clinics can provide remote care without Medicare’s usual geographic and site limits.
- Tells the Health and Human Services Department to update its rules within 60 days to match these changes.
- Could make it easier for rural and underserved patients to get Medicare-covered care without traveling, especially when internet video isn’t available.
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
2 articles
Thompson sponsors rural telehealth bill
Rep. Glenn Thompson introduced the Helping Ensure Access to Local TeleHealth (HEALTH) Act to secure Medicare reimbursement for telehealth services provided by community health centers and rural health clinics, including audio-only visits for patients without broadband access.
Congress Votes to Maintain Telehealth Policy that Disadvantages Safety-Net Providers & Patients
While Congress recently extended temporary telehealth flexibilities, advocacy continues for the HEALTH Act (H.R. 5496), which would establish permanent, cost-related payments for telehealth services at Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
HEALTH Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(5)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.