Extension of certain telehealth flexibilities

(a) Removing geographic requirements and expanding originating sites for telehealth services Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (2)(B)(iii), by striking ending September 30, 2025 and inserting ending January 30, 2026; and (2) in paragraph (4)(C)(iii), by striking ending on September 30, 2025 and inserting ending on January 30, 2026. (b) Expanding practitioners eligible To furnish telehealth services Section 1834(m)(4)(E) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(E)) is amended by striking ending on September 30, 2025 and inserting ending on January 30, 2026. (c) Extending telehealth services for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics Section 1834(m)(8)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(8)(A)) is amended by striking ending on September 30, 2025 and inserting ending on January 30, 2026. (d) Delaying the in-Person requirements under Medicare for mental health services furnished through telehealth and telecommunications technology (1) Delay in requirements for mental health services furnished through telehealth Section 1834(m)(7)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(7)(B)(i)) is amended, in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking on or after October 1, 2025 and inserting on or after January 31, 2026. (2) Mental health visits furnished by rural health clinics Section 1834(y)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(y)(2)) is amended by striking October 1, 2025 and inserting January 31, 2026. (3) Mental health visits furnished by Federally qualified health centers Section 1834(o)(4)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(o)(4)(B)) is amended by striking October 1, 2025 and inserting January 31, 2026. (e) Allowing for the furnishing of audio-Only telehealth services Section 1834(m)(9) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(9)) is amended by striking ending on September 30, 2025 and inserting ending on January 30, 2026. (f) Extending use of telehealth To conduct face-to-Face encounter prior to recertification of eligibility for hospice care Section 1814(a)(7)(D)(i)(II) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)(7)(D)(i)(II)) is amended by striking ending on September 30, 2025 and inserting ending on January 30, 2026. (g) Program instruction authority The Secretary of Health and Human Services may implement the amendments made by this section through program instruction or otherwise.