HEALTH Act of 2025
HEALTH Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# HEALTH Act of 2025 Summary **What the Bill Does:** The HEALTH Act would expand Medicare coverage for telehealth services, particularly for rural and underserved areas. Key changes include allowing audio-only (phone) visits to be covered by Medicare, permanently enabling federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to operate as remote telehealth providers, and removing certain geographic restrictions that currently limit where telehealth can be provided. The bill would also standardize payment for telehealth services to match the rates paid for in-person care, rather than using separate payment rules. **Who It Affects:** Medicare beneficiaries would benefit from broader access to remote healthcare options. Rural patients and those in underserved areas could access more convenient care through their local clinics.
Healthcare providers at federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics would gain flexibility in delivering telehealth services. The change could also impact how Medicare reimburses these services across the healthcare system. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced by Representative Glenn Thompson (R-PA) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it's under review and has not yet been voted on by the full House. No action has been taken to advance it further at this time.
CRS Official Summary
Helping Ensure Access to Local TeleHealth Act of 2025 or the HEALTH Act of 2025 This bill modifies requirements relating to Medicare coverage of telehealth services, including services that are furnished by federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health clinics (RHCs).Specifically, the bill expands coverage to include audio-only telehealth services. It also permanently allows FQHCs and RHCs to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner) for telehealth services and excludes such services from certain geographic restrictions. Payment must be made in the same manner as for non-telehealth services, rather than in accordance with a separate methodology determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Latest Action
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.