House bill aims to make telehealth access permanent

A bipartisan bill in the U.S. House would permanently extend Medicare telehealth flexibilities that are set to expire Sept. 30.

The Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies for Health Act of 2025, also called H.R. 4206, was introduced by Reps. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., David Schweikert, R-Ariz., Doris Matsui, D-Calif., and Troy Balderson, R-Ohio, according to a Sept. 4 news release from the American Medical Association. The measure would eliminate geographic restrictions, permit patients to access telehealth services wherever internet is available and remove the in-person requirement for telemental health care. Its Senate companion bill has 63 co-sponsors.

Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health said telehealth saves its largely rural patients an average of 176 miles per round trip. The health system, which serves more than 2 million patients across 250,000 square miles, said it offers virtual care in 78 specialties across 93 locations. Two-thirds of its telehealth patients live at least 30 miles from a major medical center, and in the last decade, Sanford has delivered nearly 1 million virtual consults, saving patients 51.2 million travel miles, according to the system. One in 5 behavioral health appointments at Sanford is now virtual.

Physicians have also reported significant adoption, with 74% working in practices that offer telehealth — a threefold increase from before the COVID-19 pandemic. AMA leaders said permanent coverage would improve access, especially for rural and underserved patients, while reducing travel burdens.

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