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Telehealth Policy Update: Medicare Telehealth Waivers and Flexibilities
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On December 21, the President signed the American Relief Act 2025 (telehealth provisions begin at page 100) extending key Medicare telehealth waivers through March 31, 2025.
Highlights of these extensions are included in the January 14, 2025 newsletter from the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP):
- Waiving geographic and specific site requirements
- Maintaining the list of eligible providers to use telehealth to provide services
- Continuing to allow Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to provide services via telehealth
- Delaying the requirement for in-person visits for mental health services taking place without the geographic requirement to be met and taking place in an eligible site such as the home
- Continuing to allow services to be provided via audio-only
- Continuing to allow telehealth to be used to conduct face-to-face encounter recertification for beneficiaries eligible for hospice care
- Extending the acute hospital at home program
For updates to telehealth policy, visit CCHP to access telehealth resources, sign up for future newsletters, or view previous newsletters. If you have a specific question about telehealth policy, contact CCHP directly.
Due to the short-term extension of several key telehealth waivers and flexibilities, the NRTRC will refrain from updating online telehealth resources until more long-term information is available. These resources include NRTRC’s online telehealth trainings, the CAH Telehealth Guide, and more.
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Survey Results on Internet Access and Use in Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan Areas
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See the infographic below from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) for a description of estimates on internet access and use among Medicare beneficiaries living in metropolitan and non-metropolitan communities. Or visit here to view the infographic on the CMS website and see if you are as surprised as we are at the numbers!
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How to Secure Funding for Digital Health: Federal Grants and Telehealth for Rural Hospitals
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Join grant-funding experts at this webinar on Wednesday, Jan 29, 2025 at 12 p.m.–1 p.m. MST.
Securing federal grants is critical for rural hospitals to implement and sustain telehealth programs. This session offers practical strategies to access funding and make telehealth a long-term solution for your community.
Angela Connor, a grant expert with a proven track record of helping rural hospitals secure millions in federal funding, will share actionable insights on navigating the complex grant process. Her work has directly supported hospitals in expanding telehealth programs and improving access to care in underserved communities.
Dr. Anisha Mathur, a telehealth leader with extensive experience working in critical access hospitals, will discuss how rural facilities can use virtual care to deliver high-quality, specialty services while keeping patients local. Her real-world examples highlight what’s possible when funding aligns with a strong telehealth strategy.
You’ll learn:
- Which federal grants are available to rural hospitals right now
- Step-by-step guidance to create compelling applications that win funding
- Real-world examples of grant-funded telehealth programs that improve outcomes and sustain local care
This session equips rural healthcare leaders with actionable tools to secure financial support and enhance care delivery for their communities.
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TAPs Best Practices Guide Is Live
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The Telehealth Access Points (TAPs) Best Practices Guide outlines how to create public spaces where individuals can access telehealth appointments. TAPs are equipped with essential tools like internet access, video/audio devices, and privacy enclosures, ensuring effective and secure virtual healthcare visits. The guide details necessary equipment, sanitization protocols, and scheduling options while emphasizing the role of digital navigators in supporting individuals with digital skills and healthcare access. It highlights the importance of community partnerships to overcome barriers like digital literacy and infrastructure gaps, and explores TAP models in locations such as libraries, banks, and kiosks.
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Telehealth Post-Pandemic: A Roadmap for the Coming Decade
Telemedicine and e-Health, December 2024
Check out this compelling summary of original research related to telehealth published in 2024. The format is easy to follow, mimicking turning pages in a book!
The American Heart Association Center for Telehealth supported this special issue.
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Success Story: Informed Response Helped a Provider Grow Practice via Telehealth
I own a small practice and have been trying to expand my reach through telehealth. I wanted to make certain that I fell well within the scope of practice and rules and regulations surrounding telehealth visits, so I inquired with NRTRC through their web portal about this issue.
I immediately received a response from Jaleen Johnson, NRTRC Program Manager. She graciously organized a Zoom meeting with her and Nicki Perisho, RN, Program Director of NRTRC. Both were extremely knowledgeable and provided great resources for me to pursue as I established my telehealth practice reach in the Northwest across multiple states.
I was blown away by how helpful and responsive these two were and, in general, how incredible the organization is overall. I have had the same experience with the Pacific Basin Telehealth Resource Center; these programs all seem great. These organizations do not get enough credit for the quality work that they do for the community! Thank you so much. It's been a wonderful experience!
Tell Us Your Story! For more success stories, see all our Success Stories here. If you'd like to share your experience, submit a Success Story here.
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Grant Funding Opportunities
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USDA Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants
This competitive program helps rural communities use advanced telecommunications technology to connect to each other—and the world—overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. USDA encourages you to consider projects that promote equity and economic opportunity in rural America, specifically those that advance these key priorities:
- Helping rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure
- Ensuring that all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development programs and benefits from Rural Development funded projects
- Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities
Deadline: March 6, 2025
Refer to the funding page on the NRTRC website for additional updated grant opportunities.
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NCTRC Webinar—Breaking Down Barriers to Telehealth: How the Digital Health Readiness Screener Can Drive Equity and Access
Jan 16, 2025 @ 12 p.m.–1 p.m.
Organizer: National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers
Discover how the new Digital Health Readiness Screener from Thomas Jefferson University is making a difference in telehealth access by identifying key barriers faced by diverse patient populations. This webinar will explore how the screener assesses technical readiness and quality of care concerns, including digital literacy, privacy, and trust in telehealth. Join us to learn how this tool can support targeted interventions and help advance digital health equity across healthcare settings.
TeleBehavioral Health 2025—Burnout & Telemental Health: Re-connecting to Ourselves while Connecting to Others
Jan 17, 2025 @ 12 p.m.–1 p.m.
Organizer: University of Washington Behavioral Health Institute
Burnout is ubiquitous in all aspects of health care, but telemental health has its own unique challenges. Technology allows us to rapidly connect with patients anywhere in the country, and yet technology also can, paradoxically, isolate us (working from home, without colleagues), emotionally distance us from others (limiting emotional and non-verbal communication), and make us more sedentary and disconnected from our bodies. This talk will explore ways of mitigating telemental health burnout through enhancing human connection with ourselves and with patients by using whole health principles developed by the VA.
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How to Secure Funding for Digital Health: Federal Grants and Telehealth for Rural Hospitals
Jan 29 @ 12 p.m.–1 p.m.
Organizer: National Rural Health Association
Securing federal grants is critical for rural hospitals to implement and sustain telehealth programs. This session offers practical strategies to access funding and make telehealth a long-term solution for your community.
You’ll learn:
- Which federal grants are available to rural hospitals right now
- Step-by-step guidance to create compelling applications that win funding
- Real-world examples of grant-funded telehealth programs that improve outcomes and sustain local care
This session equips rural healthcare leaders with actionable tools to secure financial support and enhance care delivery for their communities.
See our featured article above about this event!
So Your Internet Sucks…
Jan 30 @ 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Organizer: Telehealth Technology Assessment Center
Join the Telehealth Technology Assessment Center (TTAC) and Exactly Labs for a discussion on broadband and the recent Telehealth Broadband Pilot program!
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February
SEARCH 2025
Feb 2–Feb 3
Los Angeles, CA
Organizer: SEARCH Society
SEARCH 2025—The National Telehealth Research Symposium will showcase connected health initiatives, strategies, and partnerships, specifically those that focus on the research of telemedicine, telehealth, eHealth, mHealth, and other healthcare technologies.
This event is hosted by SEARCH, the Society for Education and Advancement in Research in Connected Health.
NACHC Policy and Issues Forum
Feb 5–Feb 8
Washington, DC
Organizer: National Association of Community Health Centers
The 2025 NACHC Policy and Issues Forum (P&I) is an event where change-makers and thought leaders in the health center movement gather momentum and focus on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Health center leaders from around the country—doctors, nurses, CEOs, and consumer board leaders—will descend on the halls of Congress, share their stories and underscore that long-term sustainability is essential to meet the growing demand for care.
NRHA Rural Health Policy Institute
Feb 11–Feb 13
Washington, DC
Organizer: National Rural Health Association
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