The start of the federal government shutdown coincided with the September 30, 2025, deadline to extend flexibilities that allow Medicare beneficiaries to receive certain healthcare services wherever they call home via telehealth. This broad access to care has been possible through waivers of current law that allow people to access care, offered by a wide range of providers, regardless of geographical location, delivered via video or audio technology. Hospice and home health providers have been able to perform their face-to-face certifications and recertifications via telehealth because of the flexibilities.
Extended on a year-over-year basis, the flexibilities expired at the end of September 2025. With no extension currently possible due to the government shutdown, older adults’ access to care is limited and providers are navigating scheduling and staffing issues to ensure visits occur in person.
Take action to encourage your members of Congress to support and include, in a package to reopen the government or at the end of year, the “Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2025” or the “CONNECT for Health Act of 2025” (S. 1261/H.R. 4206) and stop the telehealth cliff by authorizing these flexibilities permanently.