House Bill Proposes Permanent Medicare Telehealth Payments for Community Health Centers

This bill would permanently expand the types of healthcare providers who can bill Medicare for telehealth visits. It adds physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and their assistants to the approved list. This means Medicare beneficiaries — especially seniors and people with disabilities — could receive therapy and audiology services from home via video or phone instead of traveling to a clinic. It also gives the HHS Secretary authority to add more provider types in the future without new legislation.

People with physical disabilities often need regular physical therapy and occupational therapy but may face significant barriers getting to in-person appointments. By allowing their therapists and therapy assistants to bill Medicare for telehealth visits, this bill would make it much easier for people with mobility challenges to access the rehabilitation services they need from the comfort of their homes.

The bill adds audiologists and speech-language pathologists to Medicare's approved telehealth provider list. This directly benefits people with hearing and speech-related disabilities who rely on these specialists. Remote access to audiology and speech therapy could reduce travel burdens and make follow-up care more convenient, particularly for those in rural areas or with limited transportation options.

Many people with chronic illnesses require ongoing physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy as part of their treatment plans. Expanding telehealth access for these services under Medicare means fewer trips to clinics and more consistent access to care, which can improve long-term health outcomes for those managing conditions like stroke recovery, Parkinson's disease, or arthritis.

People with mental health conditions on Medicare can keep seeing their providers by video or phone without needing in-person visits first.