What the new January 2026 extension means for telehealth after October 1, 2025

Updated: November 2025

When Medicare's telehealth options ended on October 1, 2025, both clinicians and patients were left in the dark. But on November 12, 2025, Congress issued a continuing resolution that retroactively reinstates the waivers and extends them until January 30–31, 2026. For now, this brings back stability, but another policy cliff is coming soon.

Redefining patient care—one virtual visit at a time. This provider shows how telehealth keeps care accessible and personal, even beyond the clinic walls.

What Was Reinstated?

Key Medicare telehealth options are now available again:

• Home as an originating site 

• No geographic restrictions for telehealth

• Audio-only telehealth allowed in certain cases

• Therapy providers (PT/OT/SLP) allowed to deliver telehealth

• Hospice recertifications allowed via telehealth

(Confirmed by AHCANCAL, APTA, AOTA, and other policy updates released after the shutdown resolution.)

What Providers Should Do

• Review claims from October 1 to November 12; a lot of them will now be eligible for reimbursement.

• Make sure that the EHR and billing workflows are up to date with the rules that are back in effect through January.

• Notify patients that they can now use telehealth again, even if it's only for audio.

• Monitor state rules and commercial payer policies, which may not be the same.

• Get ready for another change in January unless Congress passes a long-term solution.

What Patients Should Know

• Medicare will again allow telehealth visits from home, audio-only, and with therapy providers until January 2026.

• Talk to your provider regarding coverage and scheduling.

• Depending on Congress, rules may change again after January.

  
  

Breaking down barriers to care. Virtual visits bring peace of mind to families, ensuring healthcare is always within reach.

Why the Lapse Happened

The telehealth waivers were going to end on September 30. The federal budget got stuck, and the government had to shut down for a while. This meant that the waivers ran out. The November CR brought them back, but only for a short time, leaving long-term policy up in the air.

Impact on Healthcare Operations

• Billing/RCM: As systems are updated, expect claim backlogs and possible delays from payers.

• Compliance: Documentation must still show the type of service, where it came from, and the technology utilized.

• Scheduling: Telehealth availability remains unchanged through January—communicate this clearly.

• Technology planning: Practices should prepare for either another extension or a big policy rollback.

What’s Next?

Congress must decide whether telehealth flexibilities become permanent, extended further, or allowed to expire. Until then, providers should stay updated, adjust workflows, and communicate clearly with patients.

For now, telehealth continues, but with a deadline attached.

From AI-powered EHR to seamless telehealth, everything we do at Enable Healthcare is designed with one focus: you.

How Enable Healthcare Helps You Overcome the Telehealth Cliff

At Enable Healthcare Inc., we know how disruptive these changes can be. That’s why our solutions are built to keep practices compliant, efficient, and focused on patient care—even as policies shift.

1. Smarter Charting with AI-Powered EHR

Our AI-backed Electronic Health Record (EHR) streamlines charting and documentation. Customizable telehealth modules ensure encounters are coded with the correct modifiers, POS codes, and time tracking—reducing denials and compliance risks.

2. Automated Billing & Compliance

Our medical billing automation platform adapts to the latest CPT and HCPCS changes (like the 98000–98016 telehealth codes). Claims are validated for compliance before submission, protecting revenue cycles.

3. Chronic Care Management & Remote Monitoring

With reduced access to non-behavioral telehealth, our Chronic Care Management (CCM) tools keep high-risk patients engaged between visits. Remote monitoring enhances outcomes and ensures billable continuity of care.

4. Compliance & Audit Protection

Enable’s telehealth compliance solutions include HIPAA security features, audit-ready reporting, and documentation workflows to safeguard against increased oversight.

5. Patient-Friendly Access Tools

We support providers in deploying secure telehealth platforms, patient portals, and mobile apps that give patients a seamless virtual care experience—even as regulations evolve.

Steps Providers Should Take (Starting Now)

1. Audit telehealth workflows – Identify services no longer compliant.

   
   

2. Update billing processes – Train staff on new telehealth CPT codes, POS, and modifiers, or let Enable’s billing automation handle it.

   
   

3. Segment behavioral vs. non-behavioral services – Continue tele-mental health confidently; prepare hybrid models for other services.

   
   

4. Communicate with patients – Use portals, emails, and outreach to explain what’s changed. Enable’s patient engagement tools streamline this.

   
   

5. Stay informed – Follow CMS, HHS, and state telehealth updates. Enable provides regular policy alerts and process updates.

Preparing for the Future

While the many flexibilities that ended on October 1, 2025 have been extended, their end looms. One thing for sure, telehealth is here to stay. Mental health remains strong, DEA prescribing is extended, and bipartisan bills in Congress seek to permanently expand access (Congress.gov).

There’s still a chance of an extension once the government reopens, and we at EHI will provide prompt updates as soon as new guidance is released.

For now, providers must adjust. With Enable Healthcare’s AI-powered EHR, automated billing, and compliance-first design, you can navigate uncertainty and continue delivering patient-centered telehealth services.

Call to Action

Don’t wait until denials or penalties impact your practice. Prepare today with solutions built for the future of healthcare.

👉 Schedule a free demo with Enable Healthcare to see how our telehealth-ready tools can help your practice stay compliant, efficient, and focused on patients—even as policies change.

Sources

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2025). Medicare telehealth services updates. Retrieved from CMS.gov

• National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers. (2025). Preparing for October 1, 2025: The Telehealth Policy Cliff. Retrieved from telehealthresourcecenter.org

• DEA & HHS. (2024). Telemedicine prescribing flexibilities. Retrieved from dea.gov

• Telehealth.HHS.gov. (2025). Telehealth policy updates and provider guidance. Retrieved from telehealth.hhs.gov