The countdown is on: Medicare’s current telehealth waivers are scheduled to end on September 30, 2025. Unless Congress takes additional action, physicians and practices will see a significant shift back to pre-pandemic Medicare telehealth rules.

For many providers, this could mean:

• Geographic restrictions return: patients must be in a rural or underserved area to qualify for Medicare telehealth coverage.
• Site requirements return: only certain “originating sites” (clinics, hospitals, FQHCs, RHCs, SNFs, dialysis centers, etc.) will be eligible, instead of the patient’s home.
• Fewer covered services: many services currently allowed under temporary waivers may no longer be reimbursed.
• Compliance risk: reverting back to permanent policies could trigger denials if staff are not properly trained on location rules and documentation requirements.

What Physicians Need to Know

Without legislative action, telehealth access will be reduced starting October 1, 2025.

That means practices should prepare now for:

• Shifts in patient volume if home-based telehealth visits are no longer reimbursed.
• Stricter Medicare billing and coding requirements.
• Training staff and providers on permanent telehealth compliance rules.

Is Telehealth Really Ending?

While there are bipartisan bills in Congress fighting to make telehealth permanent, nothing has passed yet. The reality today is that the waivers expire September 30, 2025 and your practice needs to be ready if nothing changes.

How Peregrine Helps Practices Prepare

At Peregrine Healthcare, we’re already helping practices:

• Review telehealth billing workflows for compliance.
• Train staff on denial prevention and new payer requirements.
• Plan for operational shifts if patient care moves back to in-person.
• Monitor Medicare and payer updates so physicians stay informed, not blindsided.

Bottom Line: Telehealth isn’t guaranteed past September 30, 2025. Prepare for a future where access is restricted, while we continue to advocate for permanent coverage.

👉🏽 Need help protecting your practice revenue? Schedule a strategy call with Peregrine Healthcare.