Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities End January 30, 2026: What It Means for You?

Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities: Medicare telehealth rules have been shifting a lot, and many people were left confused after the recent federal shutdown. Now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says everything is back on track, and telehealth will stay open for patients through January 30, 2026. CMS also explained how old claims will be fixed so patients and doctors are not stuck with wrong bills.

CMS said telehealth rules will stay the same as before the shutdown. They also said the rules will cover care given during the lapse. In their update, CMS said shortages and shutdown delays will no longer hurt claims. This is important because more than 66 million Americans use Medicare every year, and many of them live in rural areas where they depend on video visits to avoid long trips.

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Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, explained what the new update means for patients.

He said, “Under the CR, certain telehealth services have been retroactively restored through January 30th. This means individuals who paid out-of-pocket during the lapse in coverage may now be eligible for refunds.”

He also said doctors must send back the money and file the claims again. Thompson added, “Telehealth has been a lifeline since the pandemic, giving providers the ability to reach patients, especially in rural or underserved areas who lack easy access to in-person care. If these provisions are not extended further, rural residents and individuals with limited mobility could face serious challenges, including long travel times and reduced access to care that telehealth once helped eliminate.”

Another expert, Alex Beene from the University of Tennessee at Martin, also shared his view. He told Newsweek, “During the pandemic, telehealth became a gamechanger for millions of Americans needing medical assistance, but either not able or concerned to go into a medical facility. In the years following it, telehealth has become increasingly popular, especially in rural communities that have seen numerous hospital and clinic closures and rely on those services more heavily. The extension through January 31, 2026 ensures Medicare recipients will continue to have coverage in this area and even retroactively in the time that the extension had yet to be passed.”

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Claims from Shutdown Period will be Paid

CMS said all telehealth claims from October 1, 2025, to January 30, 2026, will be handled “as though no lapse had occurred.” That means contractors can now pay for telehealth visits done at home or in non-rural places, even if earlier rules would have blocked them. Claims that were denied or returned before November 10 can be resubmitted for full payment.

CMS asked doctors to return extra payments to patients once Medicare pays the fixed claims. This update also follows a push from doctors who want telehealth to stay open. One cancer doctor, Robert Hoyer wrote, “For patients living with a cancer diagnosis or chronic conditions, telehealth provides an important link to their care team. Telehealth also helps alleviate costly travel to medical appointments, time off work, and child care expenses.”