S. 3834 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Feb 11, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExpands who can provide telehealth under Medicare
The bill allows more types of health care professionals to offer services remotely through Medicare. Specifically, it lets audiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and their assistants provide telehealth services permanently. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can also decide to add other providers to the list.
How it affects you
If you're on Medicare and need services like physical therapy, audiology, or speech therapy, you'd have more options to receive care from home without traveling to an office. This applies to Medicare beneficiaries who use these particular services and want the convenience of remote appointments.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Feb 11, 2026)
Expanded Telehealth Access Act
This bill expands the types of health care practitioners who may provide telehealth services under Medicare.
Specifically, the bill permanently allows audiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other providers designated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide telehealth services under Medicare. It also specifically allows occupational therapy assistants and physical therapist assistants to provide such 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 SessionS. 3834
A BILL
Expanded Telehealth Access Act
Sponsor: Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) · Introduced Feb 11, 2026 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Feb 11, 2026: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.”