H.R. 7444 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent 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, Feb 9, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExpands Medicare telehealth coverage in rural areas
The bill makes permanent changes to Medicare's telehealth rules. It removes location restrictions so beneficiaries can receive telehealth from anywhere, including their homes. It also allows more types of health clinics to provide telehealth services, and adds audio-only visits for certain types of care like check-ups and mental health services to the covered services.
How it affects you
If you're a Medicare beneficiary in a rural area, you'd have easier access to doctor visits from home without geographic barriers. Rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers would be able to offer more telehealth options to their patients. People in areas with limited in-person specialists nearby would have more ways to connect with care remotely.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Feb 9, 2026)
Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act
This bill expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare.
Specifically, the bill permanently (1) removes geographic restrictions on originating sites (i.e., the location of the beneficiary), (2) allows the home of the beneficiary to serve as the originating site for all services, (3) allows federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner), and (4) expands coverage to include audio-only services for evaluation and management and behavioral health services.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionH. R. 7444
A BILL
Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act
Sponsor: Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH-1) · Introduced Feb 9, 2026 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Feb 9, 2026: “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.”
Sections
Sections · 6
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2Elimination of restrictions relating to telehealth servicesNo change
- Sec. 3Telehealth flexibilities for critical access hospitalsNo change
- Sec. 4Extending Medicare telehealth flexibilities for Federally qualified health centers and rural health clinicsNo change
- Sec. 5Allowance of certain telehealth services furnished using audio-only technologyNo change
- Sec. 6Sense of Congress regarding expansion of eligible practitioners that may furnish telehealth servicesNo change