To prevent a government shutdown, President Joe Biden signed the American Relief Act, 2025 on December 21. This law extends Medicare reimbursement for certain telehealth services until March 31, 2025.
The new legislation lifts previous location restrictions, letting Medicare patients access telehealth services from anywhere, including their homes. This is highlighted in a blog post by the Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law (CTeL).
Additionally, the act broadens the types of healthcare providers who can deliver telehealth, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. It also permits audio-only telehealth visits and extends the waivers for hospitals providing at-home monitoring and virtual care.
However, the time frame for coverage is shorter than what was suggested in a potential two-year extension package that was expected to be voted on in December. That package could have provided extended telehealth services for Medicare patients, along with benefits for home-based cardiopulmonary rehabilitation in 2025 and 2026.
As we navigate this evolving telehealth landscape, here are some interesting trends and insights:
Telehealth’s Impact on Dementia Care
Telehealth is proving useful for individuals with dementia. A study showed that in-person visits dropped significantly during the pandemic. At Kaiser Permanente, in-person visits for dementia patients fell from 60% to 27%. At UC San Francisco, the decline was from 99% to 35%. Meanwhile, telehealth visits soared, rising from 5.5% to 29% at Kaiser and from 0.3% to 20% at UCSF, especially among older patients and those who traveled long distances.
Women Seeking Abortion Medication via Telehealth
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, many women have turned to telehealth for abortion pills. In Wisconsin, although telehealth for abortion services is banned, about 130 orders for abortion medications are shipped monthly from out-of-state providers, as reported by Wisconsin Public Radio. In October 2023, public hospitals in New York City began offering abortion care via telehealth, becoming a pioneer in this area.
Telemedicine in Ambulances
As ambulances face a shortage of trained workers and long transport times to hospitals, telemedicine is stepping in to help. Nebraska has equipped 65 ambulances with telehealth tablets that connect technicians with medical professionals for real-time assistance. Similar efforts have been seen at Mayo Clinic, which used headsets in ambulances to monitor patients en route.
Engaging Patients in Clinical Trials
A survey found that 63% of patients would be more willing to join clinical trials if telehealth options were available. This shift makes participation easier by removing travel and scheduling hurdles. For example, Ohio State University’s cancer center launched a virtual trial where patients received medication by mail and had telehealth appointments with researchers.
High Satisfaction with Remote Cancer Care
Patients dealing with cancer often face the burden of daily trips for radiation therapy. Memorial Sloan Kettering developed a model allowing patients to receive initial consultations and treatment plans via telehealth while getting radiation closer to home. A study showed that 98% of patients rated their satisfaction with this program highly, saving them both time and travel expenses.
Disparities in Telehealth Experiences
Not everyone has the same experience with telehealth. A study involving cancer patients revealed that Black respondents often found telehealth visits less effective and more challenging for connecting with providers compared to their non-Black counterparts. They also expressed concerns about privacy during these visits.
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