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Lawmakers reached an agreement on December 14, 2024, to extend key healthcare programs, including expanded telehealth provisions. While the package awaits votes in the House and Senate this week, it includes significant wins for healthcare providers and patients.
Medicare physicians are set to receive a 2.5% payment increase for one year, offsetting a 2.8% cut announced in November’s fee schedule. Telehealth policies saw notable gains, with a two-year extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities. These include expanded geographic and originating site options, as well as the ability for more provider types to bill for telehealth services.
Additionally, commercially insured patients will benefit from a two-year extension of pre-deductible telehealth coverage for high-deductible health plans tied to health savings accounts—a surprising expansion from the initially proposed one-year extension.
This proposed package marks a significant step in ensuring telehealth’s continued role in healthcare delivery.
Read more here.
The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) and NCTRC will host a webinar on January 9 to discuss these changes. Attendance is free, but space is limited. For more information, see Events to Bookmark in 2025 below.
Access additional information and sign up for the latest telehealth policy updates at https://www.cchpca.org/.
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