After the longest government shutdown in American history, Congress has passed and the President has signed a continuing resolution (CR). This extends current government funding through January 30^th 2026. What’s important for OSP providers to know is that the Telehealth Waivers that expired on September 30^th 2025 (which affected traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage telehealth coverage), have been reinstated retroactively from October 1^st 2025 through January 30^th 2026.

These telehealth waivers include the following:

• Removal of the geographic limitations for medical telehealth services so they can again be furnished nationwide, including in a person's home such as an assisted living residence. 
• Restores physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology providers as eligible to furnish telehealth services. 
• Restores a delay in Medicare in-person requirement for mental health services furnished through telehealth or audio-only telecommunications technology.  
• Restores the use of telehealth to conduct face-to-face encounters for Hospice recertification purposes. 

With this extension, you can begin to provide telehealth services to Medicare and Medicare Advantage members as you had prior to the expiration of the telehealth waivers through January 30^th 2026.

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