Time Is Running Out for Medicare Telehealth Coverage and Addressing Part B Cuts

As we enter March, providers, patients, and Congress face two looming deadlines to address unresolved issues surrounding Medicare: telehealth authority and Part B payment cuts.

The Top Line:

• On March 14, funding for the federal government will end—which may trigger a government shutdown. To prevent a shutdown, Congress must pass a final spending bill for fiscal year 2025 or enact another continuing resolution to extend government funding.
• On March 31, the congressional extension of telehealth authority for audiology and speech-language pathology services will end unless Congress incorporates an extension into the federal funding legislation it needs to pass by March 14 or otherwise acts before the end of the month.

When Will Congress Act?

Though it’s difficult to say for sure, the March 14 government funding deadline may prompt Congress to act on both telehealth and Medicare Part B payments. There is a possibility that members of Congress will fail to agree on legislation by midnight on March 14, which would trigger a partial or total federal government shutdown until they are able to agree and pass funding legislation.

What’s Next?

Medicare policies for extending telehealth and addressing Part B cuts could be attached to the next federal funding bill, which must be passed by March 14. Ensuring these priorities are addressed will take the collective work of ASHA, its members, and other professional associations.

If telehealth authority for audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) is not extended by the March 14 deadline, audiologists and SLPs would be able to provide telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries until March 31. Beginning April 1, providers would need to enter into cash pay agreements to continue telehealth services or stop providing telehealth services and begin seeing the patient in person only. ASHA would continue to advocate for Congress to pass legislation to make audiologists and SLPs permanent Medicare telehealth providers. This would also be the case if the government shut down lasted beyond March 31. Learn more about Medicare telehealth billing.

Should a full or partial government shutdown occur, it’s unlikely to impact Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security payments, as previous shutdowns have not. However, ASHA Advocacy would closely monitor the evolution of the shutdown to determine its impact on members and will continue to provide updates no matter what Congress decides to do.

What Is ASHA Doing to Address These Issues?

ASHA Advocacy staff and volunteers have spent countless hours meeting with legislators in both the House and Senate to highlight the importance of securing permanent Medicare telehealth authority and improving Medicare payment rates. We will continue fighting for these issues and more regardless of the outcome on March 14.

What Can Advocates Do?

You can send messages to your members of Congress asking for their help extending telehealth coverage and mitigating Medicare cuts. As their constituent, your voice matters the most. This will strengthen ASHA’s efforts to ensure that your priorities are addressed in the next government funding bill.

Will This Impact Medicaid?

Medicare and Medicaid are different. The current threats to Medicaid are unrelated to the government funding deadline. Medicare telehealth authority has no immediate impact on Medicaid telehealth authority. Learn more and take action for Medicaid here.

Questions?

For questions about Medicare policy and payment, contact ASHA’s health care and education policy team at reimbursement@asha.org  For questions about the federal legislative process and how you can take action, contact the federal and political affairs team at federal@asha.org.

See our previous updates from December and January for more information on the progression of this most recent federal funding saga.