March 17, 2025

As CSWA predicted, the Continuing Resolution to keep the Federal government running passed the Senate on March 14, having already passed the House, with the stipulation that telemental health, telehealth, and audio-only treatment through Medicare be continued for six months beginning April 1, 2025. This means that there will need to be another vote to continue coverage of telemental health after October 1, 2025. As we know, most commercial insurers follow the Medicare policies.

An even better outcome is that the in-person requirement every 6 or 12 months is put on hold as well.

The text of the Continuing Resolution that confirms this in the Federal Register as follows:

p. 93 of CR

(d) DELAYING THE IN-PERSON REQUIREMENTS UNDER MEDICARE FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FURNISHED THROUGH TELEHEALTH AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY.— (1) DELAY IN REQUIREMENTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FURNISHED THROUGH TELEHEALTH.—Section 1834(m)(7)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(7)(B)(i)) is amended, in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking ‘‘on or after April 1, 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘on or after October 1, 2025,’’

(e) ALLOWING FOR THE FURNISHING OF AUDIO ONLY TELEHEALTH SERVICES.—Section 1834(m)(9) of VerDate Sep 11 2014 12:32 Mar 11, 2025 •HR 1968 EH  the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(9)) is amended by striking ‘‘ending on March 31, 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘ending on September 30, 2025’’.

Thanks to all who wrote to members of Congress.