March 17, 2022
The U.S. Congress has agreed to extend Medicare coverage for telehealth services for at least five months after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. President Biden signed this into law on March 15.
This will provide coverage until at least the end of 2022. Without this legislation telehealth services would have reverted to limited coverage in certain rural areas and would have required a patient to receive telehealth care at a healthcare facility.
The action is part of a $1.5 trillion bill that also funds the federal government through September and sends aid to Ukraine.
The bill extends Medicare coverage for telehealth services delivered in patients' homes and audio-only services that have been part of the public health emergency. The new law also calls on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to issue a report on telehealth use by June 15, 2023. Efforts continue in Congress to make these telehealth coverage expansions permanent.
April 9, 2026
An amended piece of legislation that would exempt buprenorphine from prior authorization (PA) was heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on April 9.
April 9, 2026
On April 9, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard a bill that would require coverage for psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) services under Medical Assistance.
April 9, 2026
On April 9, the House Taxes Committee heard legislation focused on supporting the financial stability and ongoing operations of Hennepin Healthcare.