Bill > HR5496

This bill, known as the Helping Ensure Access to Local TeleHealth Act of 2025 (HEALTH Act of 2025), aims to permanently expand telehealth services under Medicare, specifically for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). The bill makes several key changes: it broadens the definition of a telecommunications system to include both audiovisual and audio-only communications, ensuring that telephone consultations can be considered telehealth services; establishes permanent payment mechanisms for telehealth services provided by FQHCs and RHCs, treating these services as if they were provided in-person; removes geographic and site requirements for telehealth services, allowing patients to receive care from these clinics regardless of their location; and mandates that costs associated with telehealth services be considered allowable costs for payment calculations. The bill effectively transforms temporary telehealth expansions implemented during the COVID-19 emergency period into permanent policy, making it easier for patients in rural or underserved areas to access healthcare services remotely. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to update relevant regulations within 60 days of the bill's enactment to implement these changes.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5496/all-info