Medicare coverage of telehealth services

Medicare coverage overview

A telehealth service is a full visit with a provider using telephone or video technology that allows for both audio and video communication. 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 were originally set to expire December 31, 2024, but they were extended through March 2025 as part of legislation passed to avoid a government shutdown and keep spending the same as it was in December 2024.
Through March 31, 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 March 31, 2025, most telehealth services will again be more limited. Only some of the PHE flexibilities have been made permanent.
After March 31, 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) visits for home dialysis, 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