The passing of the Continuing Resolution (CR) ended the federal government shutdown and funds the government through January 30, 2026. The CR includes an extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities that expired on October 1, now reinstated and extended through January 30, 2026. In addition, telehealth services delivered during the shutdown will be covered retroactively.

The extended telehealth flexibilities include telehealth post-op and routine follow-up visits, virtual pre-op consultations, imaging review, and chronic condition management visits, and group telehealth ancillary services (therapy, rehab, etc.)

Medicare telehealth claims denied or not submitted during the shutdown period is not lost, but you will need to track and follow up on those claims.

Unless Congress passes longer-term legislation to prevent the end of these telehealth flexibilities, this extension may not continue after January 30, 2026.

Michele Krpata, BSW, CPC, CPMA

Compliance Officer, Quality Reporting Analyst

Integrated Physicians Management Services

99 East River Drive, 5^th Floor, East Hartford, CT 06108