A telehealth service is a full visit with a provider See Health Care Provider. using telephone or video technology that allows for both audio and video communication. Original Medicare Original Medicare, also known as Traditional Medicare, is the fee-for-service health insurance program offered through the federal government, which pays providers directly for the services you receive. Almost all doctors and hospitals in the U.S. accept Original Medicare. covers certain telehealth benefits, such as professional consultations, office visits, including psychiatry services, and a limited number of other services.
Before the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), Medicare telehealth coverage was very limited. For example, before the PHE, telehealth services were:
- Generally only covered in rural areas, and you would still have to go to a specific “originating site” (often a different medical office or clinic) to receive the telehealth.
- Generally only covered if provided via interactive, two-way audio and video technology
- Limited to certain providers, such as physicians and nurse practitioners
During the PHE, telehealth coverage was temporarily expanded to include more flexibilities and allow more people to receive care from their homes. These flexibilities have been extended through September 2025.
Through September 30, 2025, telehealth services are:
- Covered for all beneficiaries in any geographic area, at home in addition to health care settings.
- Sometimes delivered using audio only
- Provided by any health care professional that was eligible to bill Medicare
After September 30, 2025, most telehealth services will again be more limited. Only some of the PHE flexibilities have been made permanent.
After September 30, 2025, telehealth services will be:
- Still available regardless of geographic area for certain types of care
- For example: Behavioral/mental health care, monthly End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is a kidney disease that requires you to be on dialysis or have a kidney transplant. Patients with ESRD may qualify for Medicare coverage regardless of age. visits for home dialysis Dialysis is the treatment used to artificially cleanse your blood of toxins when your kidneys no longer work. , diabetes self-management training, and Medicare nutrition therapy
- Still able to be delivered using audio-only communication platforms for behavioral/mental health care
- Subject to pre-PHE restrictions for other types of care