Telehealth News
- ATA March 31, 2026 THE AMERICAN TELEMEDICINE ASSOCIATION AND JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE LAUNCH INITIATIVE TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO INTERSTATE TELEHEALTH ACCESS WASHINGTON, DC, and BALTIMORE, MD, MARCH 31, 2026 – The American Telemedicine Association (ATA), in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medicine, today announced a three-year initiative to advance understanding and legislative action to reduce state licensure hurdles and expand nationwide telehealth access through carefully tailored federal solutions that complement, rather than replace, state-based licensure and oversight.
- CCHP March 30, 2026 How the FQHCs have impacted Medicaid policy Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) provide necessary services for some of the most vulnerable populations. However, due to their unique structure, Medicaid telehealth policies can be very nuanced and complicated.
- TechTarget/xtelligent Virtual Healthcare March 30, 2026 Will ACCESS move the needle on tech-enabled chronic care? Though digital health leaders view CMS' ACCESS model as a promising pathway to value-based payment, gaps remain that could slow adoption and make the model unsustainable.
- CCHP March 24, 2026 The Skinny on the Federal Crackdown on GLP-1 Drugs and How Telehealth is Involved (...Or Not!) In early March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued 30 warning letters to telehealth companies regarding the illegal marketing of compounded GLP-1 drugs, signaling continued and heightened federal scrutiny of advertising practices.
- HEALTHCAREDIVE March 23, 2026 CMS sets standards for electronic transfer of claims documentation The regulation standardizes the electronic exchange of medical records, imaging results and other documents requested by payers to support claims.
- HealthcareITNews March 20, 2026 Link Home care with AI monitors health and safety 24/7 Sumit Nagpal, Cherish CEO, explains how a passive AI-powered device monitors patients' health at home and can trigger earlier interventions to avoid emergency room visits and reduce the cost of care.
- THE WHITE HOUSE March 20, 2026 President Donald J. Trump Unveils National AI Legislative Framework The Trump Administration is committed to winning the AI race to usher in a new era of human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security for the American people.
- HealthcareITNews March 18, 2026 A new era of patient engagement is reshaping healthcare, says HIMSS CEO As home-based care and digital tools gain momentum, aided by CMS' interest in remote monitoring, Hal Wolf says healthcare will increasingly meet patients where they are, rather than depend on in-office visits.
- Forbes March 18, 2026 The Future Of Telehealth: Breaking Barriers And Changing The Healthcare Landscape Remember the days of printed directions, when we couldn’t plan a road trip without wrinkled paper maps spread across the front seat detailing when to turn left? The evolution from office appointment to telehealth isn’t too different.
- HealthcareITNews March 18, 2026 Gold Coast Health to extend virtual care to patients' homes The public Queensland health service is integrating remote monitoring and clinical decision support capability, with initial application in post-acute care and chronic condition management.
- HEALTHCAREDIVE March 18, 2026 Physicians still concerned about AI accuracy amid rapid adoption: survey Nearly all physicians said they had already used AI in their practice or are interested in doing so, according to the survey by Doximity.
- CCHP March 17, 2026 The Other Telehealth Items in H.R. 7148 As has been reported in previous editions of CCHP’s weekly #TelehealthTuesday emails, including last week’s March newsletter, the Medicare telehealth waivers were extended through December 31, 2027 as a result of the passage of HR 7148 – The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026. However, the extension was not the only important telehealth-related item in HR 7148. The bill also contained several policies that may be new and unfamiliar since they have not previously appeared within existing federal telehealth policy.
- American Hospital Association March 17, 2026 New Mexico Libraries Expand Telehealth Access with Soundproof Booths In some parts of New Mexico, residents must drive two hours or more to reach the closest health care provider. In other words, they live in “health deserts,” explains Bo Ford, digital equity program manager in the broadband department of the New Mexico State Library.
- digitalhealth March 15,2026 Study finds virtual treatment can benefit eating disorder patients Research from Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust found that virtual treatment for people with severe eating disorders can help prevent inpatient admissions and support recovery after hospital.
- HEALTH CARE LAW TODAY/Foley & Lardner, LLP March 13, 2026 Iran-Linked Cyberattack: What U.S. Companies Need to Know Now On March 11, 2026, independent reports confirmed that one of the largest medical device companies in the United States was the target of a significant cyberattack attributed to Iran-linked threat actors.
- HEALTHCAREDIVE March 12, 2026 Microsoft launches dedicated health AI chatbot The technology giant is the latest in a string of companies to roll out an AI tool specific to consumers’ health queries.
- HEALTHCAREDIVE March 11, 2026 Amazon expands access to health-focused AI assistant The assistant launched for members of the technology giant’s One Medical primary care chain in January. Now, the tool will be available to all U.S. customers.
- UGA TODAY March 11, 2026 Telehealth visits may help breast cancer patients stay on treatment Staying in touch with doctors online could help breast cancer survivors keep up their cancer treatment, according to a recent study from the University of Georgia.
- HealthAffairs March 10, 2026 When The Front Door Is An Algorithm: Guiding Consumer Use Of AI In Health Care On January 7, 2026, OpenAI announced ChatGPT Health, a new feature that allows users to review medical test results, prepare for doctor appointments, and seek guidance on diet and fitness—while explicitly stopping short of making diagnoses.
- American Hospital Association March 10, 2026 5 Key Telehealth Insights In the wake of the extension of many Medicare telehealth flexibilities through Dec. 31, 2027, researchers have shared findings that shed light on the popularity and cost of this care delivery method compared to in-person care.
- AJMC March 10, 20266 Telemedicine Use Remains Elevated but Access Gaps Persist After COVID-19 A study of 46 million visits finds telemedicine remains above prepandemic levels, but older adults and minority groups are less likely to use virtual care.
- TechTarget/xtelligent Virtual Healthcare March 9, 2026 Study: Telehealth did not boost mental health access in rural areas Telehealth adoption resulted in incremental increases in mental health visits among patients in rural and underserved areas, a new study shows.
- Telehealth.org March 9, 2026 March Healthcare Trends Signal Consolidation, Telehealth Gaps, and AI-Driven Patient Engagement Health care spending is approaching $5 trillion annually, hospital markets are consolidating, telehealth remains underused relative to its eligibility, and artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping how patients seek care. These are not isolated headlines. They reflect structural shifts that are influencing how clinicians are paid, how care is delivered, and how patients decide when and where to seek help.
- HBECKER’S HEALTH IT March 9, 2026 Jefferson Health finds 9% of new patients choosing virtual primary care Jefferson Health in Philadelphia launched a virtual primary care program in late 2024 to address one of healthcare’s biggest access challenges: a shortage of primary care appointments. Less than two years later, the model has become one of the health system’s fastest-growing access points, adding 300 to 500 new patients each month and drawing in patients who previously had no primary care clinician.
- BECKER’S HEALTH IT March 6, 2026 Why Telehealth Skills Belong at the Core of Clinical Education Telehealth continues to evolve from an optional care modality into a routine component of clinical practice. Findings from the 2024 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Workforce Research Recap, highlight how increasing telehealth utilization is prompting many organizations to reassess educational curricula to better reflect modern care delivery needs. The integration of telehealth into education has significantly evolved for medical professionals. This is marked by the acceleration of virtual care. This shift is a profound transformation in health care delivery, emphasizing the importance of accessibility.
- BECKER’S HEALTH IT March 6, 2026 Medicare beneficiaries log 60 million telehealth visits annually Medicare beneficiaries had about 60 million telehealth visits per year between 2021 and 2023, according to a February study published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Co-author and University of Utah assistant professor Terrence Liu, MD, broke down the findings March 6 in The Conversation. He said the team derived insights from the “Medical Expenditures Panel Survey.”
- telehealth.org March 4, 2026 Social Work Licensure Compact: 2026 Update Social workers providing telehealth services face some of the same interstate licensure hurdles that have long hindered other clinicians seeking to deliver care across state lines. Still, recent developments in compact legislation are reshaping the landscape.
- TechTarget/xtelligent Virtual Healthcare March 4, 2026 Why Walmart's return to telehealth features a marketplace model Earlier this year, Walmart launched a new virtual care service with marked differences from its initial foray, indicating a new approach for non-traditional healthcare players.
- HEALTH CARE LAW TODAY/Foley & Lardner, LLP March 4, 2026 Health Care Compliance in 2026: What Compliance Leaders Need to Know The compliance story for 2026 is not a “return to normal.” It’s an acceleration. Across civil and criminal enforcement priorities, program integrity audits, and provider compensation scrutiny, the throughline is clear: regulators are prioritizing fraud prevention, expecting stronger internal controls from providers, and deploying more coordinated and sophisticated tools to detect outliers and pursue recoveries.
- CCHP March 3, 2026 Senate Help Committee Offers Helpful Recommendations to FDA The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) released their report “Patients and Families First: Building the FDA of the Future.” This report outlines legislative and regulatory reforms that will help update the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA plays a pivotal role in determining patient access to new technology and other technological breakthroughs.
- TechTarget/xtelligent Virtual Healthcare March 2, 2026 Study: Medicare patients turn to telehealth for chronic care Research shows that the use of telehealth for non-mental healthcare, particularly chronic conditions, is comparable to mental healthcare visits among Medicare patients.
- HealthcareITNews March 2, 2026 Medicare's continued support for telemedicine signals stability, legitimacy Providers that have invested in high-quality virtual platforms are well-positioned to scale efficiently while maintaining strong outcomes and meeting the expectations of patients, payers and policymakers, says one tele-behavioral care CEO.
- HEALTHCAREDIVE March 2, 2026 6 ways AI is finally tackling healthcare’s paper problem. Healthcare has invested heavily in digital transformation, yet paper still dictates how work moves. Referrals arrive by fax, authorizations come in multiple formats and clinical documentation is scanned and manually entered into systems designed to reduce administrative burden.
- BECKER'S HEALTH IT February 26, 2026 CMS launches digital health app library for Medicare beneficiaries CMS has rolled out an app directory for Medicare recipients as part of the agency’s push to digitize healthcare. The Medicare App Library seeks solutions that fall under one of three use cases: “kill the clipboard,” conversational AI assistants, or diabetes and obesity prevention and management.
- TechTarget/xtelligent HealthTech Analytics February 26, 2026 OpenEvidence launches audio telehealth feature The AI-based clinical search engine now includes a feature that allows clinicians to call, message and fax patients.
- ROUTEFIFTY February 25, 2026 Feds extend a telehealth rule that could help save more people from opioid overdoses The rule removes the in-person visit requirement for providers to prescribe a medication to treat opioid substance use disorders, which experts say could help save lives and reduce public health costs long-term.
- telehealth.org February 25, 2026 Telehealth Privacy and Security Aren’t as Scary as You Think If there is one topic in telehealth that consistently makes health care professionals uneasy, it is privacy and security; however, they should not be seen as obstacles to success. When approached with transparency and balance, they become part of what enables high-quality, accessible care.
- HealthcareITNews February 25, 2026 Rural Health Transformation funding could boost telemedicine Michael Dalton of non-profit virtual care provider Ovatient discusses whether the federal program is a short-term patch for struggling rural hospitals or the last chance to move rural healthcare onto a model that works at scale.
- HealthcareITNews February 24, 2026 How to enhance mental healthcare access for rural children An effective, cost-efficient combination of clinical collaboration, telepsychiatry, virtual reality and AI-driven knowledge management is improving pediatric mental health service access in rural North Carolina, says Dr. Sy Saeed, ahead of HIMSS26.
- CCHP February 24, 2026 New and Emerging Interstate Licensure Compacts Interstate licensure compacts continue to gain momentum across the country. Many of the recent compacts have been developed with support from the Council of State Governments (CSG)’s National Center for Interstate Compacts (NCIC), which assists states in collaborating on complex public policy issues to strengthen economies, protect public health and safety, and preserve state sovereignty.
- HealthcareITNews February 23, 2026 One physician's committed effort to bring virtual kidney care to rural Georgia Rural Americans are nearly three times more likely to develop chronic kidney disease than those in urban areas. Dr. Sharica Brookins has proven that, with telehealth and RPM, 100% virtual kidney care is not only possible, but essential.
- HealthcareITNews February 20, 2026 Q&A: Hospital-at-home has a five-year runway to show success The recent extension of the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver program brings stability, predictability and scores of opportunities for growth and innovation, says a home health physician at MGB.
- JDSUPRA February 20, 2026 Recalculating the Route: New Health Plan Privacy Requirements Health plans and health insurers are having a similar moment. February 16, 2026 was not just another regulatory waypoint—it marked the compliance deadline for significant changes affecting The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Notices of Privacy Practices (NPP), driven by amendments aligning HIPAA more closely with 42 C.F.R. Part 2, the federal confidentiality regulations for substance use disorder (SUD) records.
- HEALTHCAREDIVE February 19, 2026 Telehealth use in primary care stabilizes: research Since 2023, the share of telehealth visits has held steady at around 6% to 7%, suggesting the sector has reached a new balance between virtual and in-person care, according to Epic Research.
- healthleaders February 19, 2026 Study: Telehealth Isn't Just a Niche Solution New research out of the University of Utah finds that Medicare beneficiaries are using virtual care for a wide range of health concerns, not just behavioral health issues.
- Health Care Law Today Foley & Lardner, LLP February 18, 2026 “The Great American Recovery Initiative”: What President Trump’s New Executive Order Means for Behavioral Health Providers On January 29, 2026, President Trump signed Executive Order 14379, titled: “Addressing Addiction Through the Great American Recovery Initiative” (Executive Order). The Executive Order establishes the White House Great American Recovery Initiative (Initiative). Although this initiative will not change day-to-day clinical practices to treat substance use disorders (SUDs), the Executive Order identifies the current administration’s policy priorities and will likely influence future funding decisions, regulatory changes, and enforcement efforts. Treatment providers and investors in the SUD treatment space may look to the Executive Order as a policy roadmap for the coming legislative cycles, at least during President Trump’s second term.
- JDSUPRA February 18, 2026 Telehealth Access for Medicare Patients: Consolidated Appropriations Act Extends Key Policies Healthcare providers that rely on telehealth to serve Medicare patients can continue to do so through December 2027, as a result of an extension of the Medicare telehealth rules that were originally implemented during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (“COVID”).
- CCHP February 17, 2026 The ABCs Around FQHC State Medicaid Fee-For-Service Telehealth Policies Thanks to continued support from the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), last year the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) was able to revive and update the federally qualified health center (FQHC) section on the CCHP Policy Finder.
- telehealth.org February 11, 2026 Federal Telehealth Policy in 2026: What the Medicare Extensions Mean Federal telehealth policy in 2026 is in transition following Congress’s action to end a partial government shutdown and extend several Medicare telehealth provisions. However, many key flexibilities remain temporary, and lawmakers are now turning to broader legislation to provide long-term stability.
- CCHP February 10, 2026 Medicare & DEA Telehealth Waivers Extended Through 2027 The Medicare telehealth waivers that expired on January 30, 2026, have now been formally extended. Congress passed H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, and the bill was signed into law last Tuesday, retroactively covering the brief lapse period.
- FIERCE Healthcare February 6, 2026 Virtual diabetes prevention programs secure Medicare coverage In the $1.2 trillion budget package signed Tuesday, a little-known healthcare provision was reauthorized that will allow millions of people on Medicare to access diabetes prevention education online.
- HEALTHCAREDIVE February 4, 2026 Trump signs funding bill with PBM reforms, hospital-at-home and telehealth extensions The funding package ends a partial government shutdown and enacts several healthcare policies, including preserving telehealth flexibilities in Medicare through 2027.
- Forbes February 3, 2026 Congress Extends Medicare Telehealth Coverage For Two Years The extension, passed earlier in the day by Congress along with appropriations bills, was welcome news to physicians, telehealth providers, and other supporters who have struggled with government shutdowns and related delays that interrupted access to virtual care for millions of older adults. It extends telehealth access for Americans enrolled in Medicare through the end of 2027.
- telehealth.org February 2, 2026 When Familiar Tech Falls Short: A Case Study in Choosing the Right Telehealth Technology When COVID-19 disrupted in-person care, a large community mental health organization and federally qualified health center faced the same urgent reality as many providers: the need to establish telehealth services almost overnight.
- healthleaders February 2, 2026 Your Next Primary Care Doctor Could Be Online Only, Accessed Through an AI Tool Critics worry that AI agents miss important details about overlapping medical conditions.
- FIERCEHealthcare January 30, 2026 Maven Clinic launches research institute focused on digital health, collaboration Maven Clinic launched a research institute on Thursday to rally further research and collaboration in digital health.
- TechTarget/xtelligent Health IT and EHR January 26, 2025 Healthcare leaders expect AI maturity this year, especially in RCM A new report shows low AI maturity despite widespread adoption in the revenue cycle. Still, leaders expect to mature rapidly over the next year or two as they confront data constraints.
- TechTarget/xtelligent Health IT and EHR January 26, 2025 More patients use AI chatbots. Is this a patient safety risk? With leading AI chatbots creating more tailored healthcare instances for patient users, leading industry groups fear hazards to patient safety.
- JDSUPRA January 26, 2026 Telemental Health Laws: 2026 Overview This year’s Telemental Health Laws app update highlights a pivotal transition, as narrowed Medicare coverage, delayed U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) rulemaking on remote prescribing, and intensified federal enforcement create new operational and legal complexities for telehealth providers nationwide
- TechTarget/xtelligent Virtual Healthcare January 26, 2026 Study: AI scribes boost physician productivity, increase revenue Research shows that telehealth uptake was linked to a higher likelihood that rural residents would receive preventive care services.
- TechTarget/xtelligent Virtual Healthcare January 26, 2026 Telehealth boosts preventive care in rural areas Research shows that telehealth uptake was linked to a higher likelihood that rural residents would receive preventive care services.
- HealthcareITNews January 23, 2026 HIMSSCast: Virtual care is poised to persevere in 2026 "It's a positive moment," says Kyle Zebley, ATA's CEO and executive director of ATA Action, in a conversation about health tech policy advances and the organization's strategies for 2026.
- HealthcareITNews January 22, 2026 Could 2026 bring permanent telemedicine policy? One physician thinks so Virtual care is a viable model for the long haul, says Dr. Chris Gallagher of Access TeleCare. Two of his physician colleagues add their 2026 predictions on telehealth's role in stroke care and behavioral healthcare.
- Foley & Lardner LLP January 22, 2026 AI, Privacy, and Cybersecurity in Digital Health: A CEO Playbook for Reducing Risk While Scaling Fast Digital health and telehealth companies are scaling faster than regulators can write rules. AI-driven clinical workflows, remote monitoring, virtual care platforms, and data intensive patient engagement tools are now core to how care is delivered. That velocity creates opportunity, but it also creates concentrated legal risk around privacy, cybersecurity, and AI governance.
- telehealth.org January 22, 2026 HIMSSCast: Reducing Depression and Isolation in Older Adults Using VR and Telehealth: A Case Study Older adults in assisted care often face loneliness, loss of independence, and depression – especially after losing a loved one. But what if telehealth and virtual reality (VR) could help restore joy and connection? This case study describes how one older adult rediscovered purpose and community through VR therapy delivered via telehealth.
- HealthcareITNews January 21, 2026 Mayo Clinic on rethinking brain cancer care with digital transformation Ahead of HIMSS26, Mayo Clinic’s Ugur Sener and Taylor Galloway preview their talk on using digital tools and decentralized trials to deliver brain cancer care remotely.
- telehealth.org January 21, 2026 Telehealth Policy in 2025: How Regulatory Gaps Disrupted Patient Access and Outcomes Telehealth policy uncertainties, differing regulations from state to state, and disrupted care in 2025 affected patient access to health care. Research consistently shows that when telehealth is implemented effectively, patient outcomes can be comparable to those of in-person care. However, the ability to utilize telehealth as a mode of health care delivery effectively relies on federal and state policies.
- JDSUPRA January 15, 2026 Telehealth Plays A Growing Role In Tackling New York’s Mental Health Crisis In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made permanent several major expansions to telehealth coverage under Medicare by broadening the list of services that could be delivered via telehealth and expanding the types of providers who are allowed to offer mental health care remotely. Physicians, nurse practitioners, licensed clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors are now all authorized to provide mental health services through telehealth.
- JDSUPRA January 15, 2026 Telehealth Plays A Growing Role In Tackling New York’s Mental Health Crisis In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made permanent several major expansions to telehealth coverage under Medicare by broadening the list of services that could be delivered via telehealth and expanding the types of providers who are allowed to offer mental health care remotely. Physicians, nurse practitioners, licensed clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors are now all authorized to provide mental health services through telehealth.
- HealthcareITNews January 14, 2026 WVU Medicine gets big win switching RPM from centralized to hybrid approach It's been a "game-changer" in making remote patient monitoring available for all patients, says one of the health system's telehealth leaders. A hybrid approach enables providers to serve many more patients: 500% growth over a centralized system.
- telehealth.org January 14, 2026 Temporary by Design: A Telehealth Policy Year in Review for 2025 Telehealth policy in 2025 was defined more by a series of extensions, interim rules, and last-minute congressional actions than by sweeping reform. Across prescribing, reimbursement, licensure, and Medicaid policy, federal agencies and lawmakers repeatedly opted for temporary solutions as they weighed patient access, concerns about fraud, and budget pressures heading into 2026.
- telehealth.org January 13, 2026 Telehealth Workflow Optimization: Practical Strategies Clinicians Can Apply Today Telehealth workflows continue to fall short for clinicians because of small, preventable operational gaps that often go unnoticed. Imagine what your day would look like if every step of your telehealth workflow worked exactly as intended.
- JDSUPR January 9, 2026 Telehealth Update: Telehealth Flexibilities, Convictions and Indictment, and 2026 Outlook The end of 2025 saw several notable developments for the telehealth industry with early 2026 poised to potentially challenge the industry with the impending expiration of the short-term extension of the Medicare telehealth flexibilities.
- telehealth.org January 9, 2026 Top Telehealth Organizations Clinicians Should Follow in 2026 for Policy, Guidance, and Best Practices Many clinicians are seeking trusted sources of policy updates, regulatory guidance, and best practice insights. A growing number of national organizations now play pivotal roles in shaping the telehealth landscape, including those focused on advocacy efforts. Their resources range from free policy trackers to national conferences, but they all offer something unique for clinicians working to deliver safe, high-quality care virtually.
- FIERCEHealthcare January 9, 2026 Industry Voices—Relational technology: How FQHCs bridge specialty care’s missed connections Telehealth workflows continue to fall short for clinicians because of small, preventable operational gaps that often go unnoticed. Imagine what your day would look like if every step of your telehealth workflow worked exactly as intended.
- MEDPAGETODAY January 8, 2026 AMA Urges Congress to Make Telehealth Flexibilities Permanent Services are necessary, not duplicative, and may yield long-term savings, it argues. "Since the COVID-19 public health emergency, Congress has repeatedly extended telehealth flexibilities for Medicare patients -- often at the last moment -- creating uncertainty for millions of patients and their physicians," said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, MD, in a press release.
- FIERCE Healthcare January 5, 2026 2026 Outlook: Hybrid care companies poised for growth driven by economic, policy tailwinds There are a lot of predictions that artificial intelligence doctors are coming soon. A look at the investment market confirms the industry is buzzing around AI healthcare startups.
- telehealth.org January 5, 2026 As ACA Vote Fails, CMS Launches Rural Health Office: How December 2025 Policy May Affect Telehealth The expiration of enhanced ACA premium subsidies could reduce telehealth access for vulnerable populations unless Congress reaches a bipartisan compromise in 2026. CMS’s new Office of Rural Health Transformation signals growing federal reliance on virtual care models and broadband as core components of rural health care delivery. Ongoing uncertainty surrounding Medicare telehealth flexibilities and teleprescribing continues to hinder clinician confidence, workforce planning, and long-term investment in virtual care.
- telehealth.org January 5, 2026 Telehealth Licensure 2025–2026: Cross-State Practice and Compacts Most clinicians must still be licensed in every state where their patients are physically located at the time of a telehealth visit, despite the national reach of telehealth. Licensure compacts improve portability for some professions but remain limited or incomplete for physicians, APRNs, and PAs. Until broader reforms are adopted, clinicians must actively track licensure requirements, compact implementation, and enforcement trends to practice telehealth safely and compliantly.
- techtarget January 5, 2026 Telehealth prescribing flexibility extended through 2026 The flexibility has been extended for the fourth time through 2026, allowing prescriptions of controlled substances via telehealth without a prior in-person exam.
- Foley & Lardner LLP January 5, 2026 CMS ACCESS Model: Providers Prepare for Technology-Driven, Value-Based Care On December 1, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the ACCESS Model (Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions), a voluntary, 10-year initiative aimed at improving care for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions. This model reflects CMS’s continued commitment to value-based care and introduces new opportunities — and challenges — for health care organizations and supporting technology innovators.
- JDSUPRA January 5, 2026 New Year, New AI Rules: Healthcare AI Laws Now in Effect As healthcare organizations ring in 2026, they will also be ringing in a new era of AI regulation. With Congress yet to pass comprehensive AI legislation and federal regulatory guidance in flux, states have stepped in to fill the void. The new year will see several new laws imposing disclosure, transparency, and data protection requirements on those developing, deploying, or using AI in healthcare settings. This post highlights the key laws healthcare organizations should have on their radar.
- HealthCareITNews December 31, 2025 With remote monitoring, avoid missed revenue opportunities Sallie Gustafson, RN, director of medical affairs at Murj, discusses recent survey findings that verified billing is the undisputed top concern for electrophysiologists.
- HealthCareITNews December 31, 2025 Telemedicine could help with the VA's doc shortage Virtual care must be the VA's next great innovation, says Kent Dicks, CEO of Life365, who says telehealth should scale to meet the agency's needs and bring better care to veterans.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services December 29, 2025 CMS Announces $50 Billion in Awards to Strengthen Rural Health in All 50 States The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that all 50 states will receive awards under the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative established under President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts legislation (Public Law 119-21) to strengthen and modernize health care in rural communities across the country. Many states included a significant focus on telehealth and digital health expansion to meet the emerging needs of rural communities. Read abstracts of each state’s proposal and budget request on the CMS website here. To learn more information from each state’s RHTP application, this map was created by the Kaiser Family Foundation: Tracking Applications for Rural Health Transformation Funds - KFF Health News
- JDSUPRA December 26, 2025 With remote monitoring, avoid missed revenue opportunities Earlier this month, the IRS issued guidance on the health savings account (HSA) changes enacted as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). While the guidance does not significantly alter the provisions announced when the law was passed in July, it does provide helpful details on how the new rules will be applied operationally.
- telehealth.org December 22, 2025 Practical Tips for Getting Started With Immersive Telehealth from the American Medical Extended Reality Association Commentary from Dr. Triton Ong, PhD, including his expert opinion and interpretation of emerging developments in immersive telehealth.
- HealthcareITNews December 19, 2025 Good news and bad news for RPM in 2026 UnitedHealthcare is one payer that's limiting coverage of remote patient monitoring. But a recent OIG report on RPM and Medicare could fuel further expansion of this valuable virtual care approach.
- HealthcareITNews December 19, 2025 VA issues RFP to boost its community care program Under a new indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract structure, Veterans Affairs said it can procure the data and technology it needs to better oversee the Veterans Community Care Program and hold contracted health plans accountable.
- JDSUPRA December 19, 2025 FDA Drives Digital Health Forward With Pilot Program for Chronic Condition Devices A new Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") pilot opens the door for digital health devices without FDA premarket authorization to be used to provide care paid under the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation ("CMMI") Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions ("ACCESS") model.
- telehealth.org December 19, 2025 Telehealth Support Groups Expand Perinatal Depression Care Across Rural Utah Research efforts in Utah are bringing needed support to pregnant women and new moms across the state from cities to the frontier. For the one in five pregnant women who experience depression, research is changing—and saving—lives.
- HealthcareITNews December 17, 2025 Urgent specialist care? It's possible with telehealth Telemedicine can bring down the wait to see a specialist from months to hours, while reducing costs. Health systems can do well to create telehealth-first specialist programs that refer to in-person visits when necessary, a teledermatologist says.
- JDSUPRA December 16, 2025 Countdown to 2026: New Year Changes in Telehealth Impacting Medicare Providers The manner in which services are provided via telehealth has the potential to look very different for healthcare providers—particularly those providing services to Medicare patients—in 2026. As 2025 draws to a close, the Quarles Health Law Team takes a look at these possible changes and what they could mean for healthcare providers that provide care via telehealth.
- HealthcareITNews December 16, 2025 New York awards hospitals more than $300M for IT and cyber investments The state announces new funding aimed at expanding electronic health records, strengthening cybersecurity, and increasing telehealth and post-acute care services.
- JDSUPRA December 15, 2025 CMS and FDA Announce Initiatives to Expand Access to Digital Health Technologies Last week, CMS and the FDA announced coordinated efforts to widen access to technology-enabled care for Medicare beneficiaries with certain chronic conditions.
- telehealth.org December 15, 2025 2025 Tax Credits: End-of-Year Planning for the Busy Telehealth Professional For telehealth entrepreneurs, behavioral health clinicians, and other busy professionals, the end of 2025 presents a timely opportunity to explore potential tax credits. This article provides a review of IRS resources and widely recognized legal and financial summaries to help telehealth providers consider which credits to discuss with their accountant or tax attorney.
- telehealth.org December 15, 2025 Virtual Nursing Leaders Call for Stable Policy and Clear Reimbursement in Rapidly Evolving Care Models A national panel of nursing, operational, and regulatory experts convened on Dec. 10 to examine how virtual nursing, acute hospital care at home, and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping patient care amid shifting federal policies.
- telehealth.org December 15, 2025 Telehealth Licensure Risk: Working for Youth Mental Health Companies The rapid expansion of youth-focused digital mental health companies has opened new employment opportunities for clinicians across the United States.
- JDSUPRA December 12, 2025 CMS Announces Model for Technology-Assisted Chronic Condition Management On December 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions Model (ACCESS), a 10-year voluntary alternative payment model (APM) that will pay participating organizations recurring, outcome-aligned payments for providing technology-supported care to manage common chronic conditions.
- telehealth.org December 9, 2025 18 Telehealth Behavioral Health Solutions Transforming Rural Access Behavioral health remains one of the most pressing and underserved areas in healthcare — especially in rural and low-resource settings. CMS’s Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program places strong emphasis on expanding access to behavioral health through integrated care models, digital tools, and value-based approaches. Telehealth behavioral health solutions continue to play a central role in closing access gaps and supporting clinicians who serve geographically isolated or understaffed communities.
- HealthcareITNews December 9, 2025 Telehealth prescribers urge feds to act quickly on virtual Rx As the third pandemic-era waiver allowing virtual prescribing of controlled substances sunsets, more than 180 telemedicine providers and advocates are asking OMB and DEA to act immediately to protect patients.
- CCHP December 9, 2025 2025 Legislative Roundup As 2025 nears its end, the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) is releasing its annual roundup of state telehealth legislation. This year, states continued refining telehealth policy across multiple areas, including Medicaid coverage, private payer requirements, licensure, prescribing, and professional practice standards. Increased attention to remote patient monitoring, clearer parameters for when audio-only is appropriate, data transparency, and artificial intelligence reflects a shift toward more detailed and clearly defined telehealth frameworks
- telehealth.org December 8, 2025 Preparing for Cognitive Telehealth Assessment With Older Adults Many older adults can benefit from establishing a baseline of cognitive functioning to monitor changes over time. Cognitive telehealth assessments provide a structured way to evaluate memory, attention, language, and problem-solving abilities through secure videoconferencing.
- HealthcareITNews December 8, 2025 AI should make RPM scalable, sustainable and successful in 2026 For remote patient monitoring, this means fewer false positives, faster intervention to reduce preventable readmissions, and patients who get well and stay that way, says one CEO.
- HealthcareITNews December 2, 2025 How OSF HealthCare is using RPM to serve maternity deserts The rural Illinois health system says more than 80% of the mothers it reaches out to with an option for remote patient monitoring decide to enroll – and 75% stay actively engaged to be monitored for the first six weeks of p
- HealthcareITNews December 4, 2025 Acute care at home helps improve outcomes for rural patients Many rural hospital at home programs have improved the patient experience and are delivering high-value care, a new JAMA report shows. Researchers say the model can also help reduce health systems' financial burdens.
- telehealth.org December 3, 2025 CMS Clarifies Telehealth Box 32 Guidance: Home Address Rules Explained CMS allows clinicians with a physical practice location to continue using that address for telehealth billing, avoiding disclosure of their home address. Telehealth-only clinicians must still list their home address, though CMS now permits labeling it as “administrative/telehealth use only” to suppress the complete street address. The clarification reduces uncertainty and privacy concerns for hybrid practices, but fully remote providers still face limitations that future policy changes must address.
- telehealth.org December 2, 2025 Measuring the 5 Most Critical Telehealth Metrics: How Clinicians Can Track and Improve Success The five key metrics for measuring telehealth success are: Clinician satisfaction, Patient satisfaction, technical performance, visit volume, and visit reimbursement.
- CCHP December 2, 2025 New Patient & Provider Telehealth Education Resources! The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) has developed several new telehealth resources created specifically for the Intellectually/Developmentally Disabled (IDD) community, including this fact sheet that addresses common questions patients may have regarding telehealth.
- healthleaders December 2, 2025 Providers Get Good News on Hospital at Home, Telemedicine Prescription Waivers A proposed five-year extension of the CMS Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCaH) waiver has passed the House and is headed to the Senate, while the DEA has indicated it will extend a waiver allowing for virtual prescribing of controlled medications.
- Foley & Lardner LLP December 2, 2025 Digital Health Technologies Use in Clinical Trials: Support from MAHA and Defined Expectations from FDA’s Final Guidance Digital health technologies (DHT) are a key aspect of the U.S. Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda. DHTs are health care focused technology systems using computing platforms, connectivity, software, and/or sensors, to perform one or more functions. These include wearable devices like smartwatches, fitness trackers, blood pressure or blood glucose monitors, and more. In fact, earlier this year, Secretary Kennedy told House of Representatives Committee members that his goal is to have all Americans using DHT within the next four years. This is part of a larger push to increase quality of care by incorporating more telemedicine and artificial intelligence into the health care space.
- HealthcareITNews December 1, 2025 Brandi Clark, vice president, digital care, OSF OnCall, at Illinois health system OSF HealthCare, offers predictions on telemedicine and remote patient monitoring technologies and reimbursement for the year ahead. House lawmakers passed a bill extending CMS’ Acute Hospital C
- InsideTeleHealth December 1, 2025 CMS Unveils Voluntary ACCESS Demo To Integrate Health Tech Into Chronic Care CMS on Monday (Dec. 1) announced plans to launch a 10-year voluntary demonstration next April that will test use of novel health technology for managing chronic disease in traditional Medicare -- a move that could significantly boost use of telehealth. The model will focus on conditions affecting more than two-thirds of people with Medicare, including high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic musculoskeletal pain and depression.
- TechTarget November 26, 2025 Patients favor asynchronous e-visits for common conditions New research shows that asynchronous e-visits accounted for a high percentage of total initial visits for outpatient conditions, such as UTIs and acne, with low seven-day follow-up rates. /firstline> <
- TechTarget November 24, 2025 CMS confirms retroactive payments, eases address reporting An updated FAQ from CMS confirms retroactive reimbursement for telehealth services provided during the government shutdown and the elimination of the address reporting burden. /firstline>
- HealthcareITNews November 21, 2025 CMS clarifies telehealth rules following the government shutdown The agency confirmed that eligible Medicare telehealth reimbursements would be processed retroactively for virtual visits and cleared up confusion on provider home address repor
- CCHP November 18, 2025 Medicare Telehealth Waivers Extended...For Now Away! Last week, after agreeing to a deal to end the federal government shutdown, Congress passed a continuing resolution that would reopen the government, at least through January 30, 2026. Within the continuing resolution package was an extension of the Medicare telehealth waivers, which had previously expired on October 1, 2025 (NOTE: The package contained several divisions, however the link provided in this newsletter only goes to the section containing the telehealth items). In the passed legislation, the telehealth waivers that had expired will now be extended through Ja
- Inside Telehealth November 17, 2025 CMS Eyes Early 2026 Webinar On Diabetes Program Open To Virtual-Only Providers CMS announced plans to host an early 2026 webinar about recent regulatory changes to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP), which will allow for virtual-only providers without in-person locations to participate in the program between Jan. 1, 2026, and Dec.
- TechTarget November 13, 2025 Telehealth flexibilities reinstated through January 2026 The newly passed continuing resolution extends telehealth flexibilities and the CMS hospital-at-home waiver through Jan. 30, 2026 and approved retroactive payments. /firstline
- TechTarget November 13, 2025 2026 Physician Fee Schedule extends some virtual care payments The PFS final rule adds ADHD treatment to its digital mental health payment pathway and allows FQHCs to continue to bill for telehealth services until the end of 2026. /firstline>
- FIERCEHealthcare November 13, 2025 DEA to publish 4th extension of telehealth prescribing rule in wave of relief for virtual care providers Telehealth providers are receiving a flood of federal relief this week. As the government reopens its doors, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) also appears ready to issue another temporary extension of pandemic
- CCHP November 12, 2025 Final 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule - CCHP Releases Analysis of Telehealth Policies On October 31st, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the finalized 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). As in previous years, the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) has reviewed the rule, identified the telehealth-related provisions, and prepared a detailed factsheet summarizing the changes along with CCH
- HealthcareITNews November 10, 2025 Arkansas Children's uses telemedicine to provide much-needed cardiac MRIs and CTs The hospital has continued to see growth in scans at multiple locations – meaning it is holistically seeing more patients who need this essential follow-up care, says its director of advanced card
- HEALTHCAREDIVE November 6, 2025 Telehealth groups urge Congress to adopt long-term virtual care fix More than 450 telehealth and provider organizations are pushing lawmakers to avoid another temporary extension of telemedicine flexibilities amid a historic government sh
- HealthcareITNews November 4, 2025 Telehealth prescribing flexibility extended through 2026 Virtual care proponents are concerned about the end of pandemic-era flexibilities in 2026, but the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule gives new indications of more permanent support for telehealth.
- HealthcareITNews, November 3, 2025 Tips for telehealth transformation from Lee Health's telemedicine chief Virtual services at the sprawling Florida health system have helped strengthen essential clinical programs, says Jonathan Witenko, transforming struggling initiatives into lasting
- telehealth.org November 3, 2025 How to Measure Telehealth Success: Metrics That Matter for Clinicians Measuring telehealth success can be tricky. Not all metrics that can be collected are meaningful, and some relevant aspects o
- Healthleaders November 3, 2025 CMS Offers Good News, Bad News for Telehealth The 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule boosts virtual care in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities but complicates reimbursement for providers using telehealth from alternate sites, like their hom
- telehealth.org October 31, 2025 Clinician Social Media Use: Expert-Informed Professional Activities, Legal-Ethical Guardrails, and Practical Steps for Safer Online Practice For clinicians providing telehealth or hybrid care, social media is now an extension of professional presence. Clinicians increasingly use digital platforms to educate patients, connect with colleagues, and advocate for access to care. However, many post or share content without fully considering licensure obligations, HIPAA/42 CFR Part 2 compliance, ethics codes, or
- FIERCEHealthcare October 31, 2025 CMS finalizes increased pay rates for physicians in 2026, but hospital docs could lose out The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its annual physician pay rule for 2026 on Friday night, which increases physician reimbursement by 3.77% for qualifying providers in advanced alternative payment models and 3.26% for other providers. /firstline> https://www.fiercehealthcare.co
- MEDPAGETODAY October 30, 2025 Patients Go Without Treatment After Government Shutdown Disrupts Telehealth — It "feels like you're taking a step back," says one patient- Bill Swick has a rare degenerative brain disease that inhibits his mobility and speech. Instead of the hassle of traveling an hour to a clinic in downtown Chicago to visit a speech therapist, he has benefited from virtual appointments from the comfort of his home. But Swick, 53,
- telehealth.org October 30, 2025 Teleconsent In Telehealth: How Clinicians Can Remain Compliant And Improve Patient Understanding In virtual care and research, informed consent is the legal and ethical foundation of patient autonomy. In telehealth, this means ensuring that patients understand what to expect from their virtual visit and are fully informed of their rights. Many states explicitly require clinicians to obtain informed consent from their patients before provid
- HealthcareITNews October 28, 2025 Where telehealth stands in the shutdown: 'Every day that goes by, it's worse' A top ATA expert says without Medicare telehealth waivers or reimbursement guarantees – while facing increased operational challenges – more providers are issuing advance notices of non-coverage. Next are concerns
- CCHP October 28, 2025 CCHP’S 50-STATE TELEHEALTH POLICY REPORT —The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) is pleased to announce the release of its 2025 State Telehealth Policy Summary. Alongside the report, CCHP has also published a companion chart that outlines how states compare across a range of telehealth policies, as well as an infographic capturing the major findings. /firstline>
- HealthcareITNews October 27, 2025 There's a clinical preceptor shortage – but telemedicine can help Technology can enable medical education programs to accept more students, even with space or site shortages. It also strengthens compliance and meets accreditation standards – while preparing med students for a digital-first
- telehealth.org October 22, 2025 Medicare’s Behavioral Telehealth Flexibilities In October 2025: Government Shutdown Impact While many of Medicare’s pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities expired with the latest continuing resolution lapse, behavioral health remains one area where Congress has already acted to make virtual care permanent. The provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Acts (CAA) of 2021 and 2023 permanently established core flexibilities for behavioral telehealth, codifying them into federal statu
- telehealth.org October 22, 2025 CMS Telehealth Flexibilities and Government Shutdown Update: Continued Claims Hold And Further Resources With the U.S. government shutdown entering its fourth week, Telehealth.org aims to provide clinicians with updates on the current
- American Hospital Association October 21, 2025 CMS lifts claims hold on PFS, other claims amid government shutdown The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Oct. 21 announced that it has instructed all Medicare Administrative Contractors to lift a hold and begin processing claims dated Oct. 1 and later for those paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, ground ambulance transport claims and federally qualified health center claims. This also includes lifting holds on telehealth claims that CMS can confirm are for behavioral health services. CMS directed all MACs to continue a temporary claims hold that began Oct. 1 for other telehealth services and acute Hospital Care at Home claims, as the shutdown approaches the st
- HealthcareITNews October 20, 2025 How telemedicine has transformed one autism and I/DD provider network Through robust use of telehealth, Catalight offers care to 99% of families within 10 days – roughly 80% faster than national norms. The customer satisfaction score is 4.34 out of 5. And there has been a 30% reduction in
- telehealth.org October 17, 2025 CPT-2026 Adds Remote Monitoring and AI Diagnostic Codes How will clinicians get paid for telehealth, AI, and digital tools in 2026? The AMA’s new CPT-2026 update introduces 288 new codes, with significant changes for remote monitoring, immunization counseling, and AI-driven diagnostics. These updates will reshape reimbursement and digit
- TechTarget October 17, 2025 Provider pay caught in the middle during government shutdown The ongoing government shutdown will impact Medicare reimbursement, particularly for telehealth services, putting revenue cycle teams in a tight spot. /first
- JDSUPRA October 14, 2025 Trending in Telehealth: September 2025 Trending in Telehealth highlights monthly state legislative and regulatory developments that impact healthcare providers, telehealth and digital health companies, pharmacists, and technology companies that deliver and facilitate the delivery of virtual ca
- telehealth.org October 14, 2025 Medicare Telehealth In-Person Mandate Began October 1, 2025: Know The Facts Medicare permanently covers behavioral and mental health services. However, the in-person requirement for Medicare beneficiaries with behavioral telehealth services began on October 1, 2025. Patients who began their behavioral telehealth visits before that date are currently only required to have an
- HealthcareITNews October 13, 2025 'Deviceless' RPM could be a potent telehealth expansion Remote patient monitoring that relies only on text messages could help drive engagement, compliance and outcomes at scale. And extend beyond biometrics to include data such as behavioral health concerns, post-discharge ch
- Medscape October 13, 2025 Physicians Face Medicare Telehealth Woes Amid Federal Government Shutdown The ongoing US government partial shutdown has unintended consequences for seniors and their doctors as most telehealth appointments are now no longer being covered by Medi
- telehealth.org October 13, 2025 The Future of Healthcare Delivery: Telehealth In late 2024, a group of Telehealth Enthusiasts gathered to envision the future of healthcare delivery. Here’s a recap of the meeti