Medicare telehealth rules for 2026 and 2027

Medicare telehealth coverage now

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 7148) became Public Law 119-75 on February 3, 2026.^[3] Under it, Medicare’s telehealth flexibilities run through December 31, 2027:^{[1, 2]}

• Where you can be: anywhere in the U.S. and territories, including your home, with no rural requirement
• Audio-only: you can get audio-only telehealth at home
• Who can see you: an extended range of practitioners, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists
• Hospital services at home: hospitals can bill for outpatient therapy, diabetes self-management training and medical nutrition therapy furnished remotely by hospital staff
• Community clinics: rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers can bill for non-behavioral telehealth visits

The flexibilities briefly lapsed during the government shutdown that began October 1, 2025. CMS says it pays telehealth claims from that period as if there had been no lapse.^[2]

What a Medicare telehealth visit costs

For most telehealth services you pay the same as in person: after you meet the Part B deductible, 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for your doctor or other provider’s services.^[1] The 2026 Part B deductible is $283 a year, and the standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month.^[4] Your actual share depends on other insurance, what the provider charges and whether the provider accepts assignment.^[1] Medicare Advantage plans and some providers in Original Medicare may offer more telehealth benefits.^[1]

CMS published the 2026 premium and deductible on November 14, 2025;^[4] the 2027 amounts had not been posted when we checked on October 30, 2026. For cash prices outside Medicare, see the telehealth visit cost guide.

Medicare telehealth rules for behavioral and mental health

Behavioral health telehealth, including substance use disorder care, has no geographic or place limits, permanently, under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. You can get it at home in rural or urban areas, and audio-only is allowed.^[2]

The in-person visit rule is delayed. Through December 31, 2027, no in-person visit is required. After that, a new patient needs an in-person visit within 6 months before the first mental health telehealth visit at home, then an in-person visit within 12 months of each telehealth visit, with limited exceptions. CMS says anyone who starts home mental health telehealth on or before December 31, 2027 is considered established and only needs at least one in-person visit every 12 months after that date.^[2]

What changes in 2027

The coverage rules for patients stay the same through all of 2027.^{[1, 2]} The changes CMS has published for 2027 are on the billing side:

• New claim modifiers: telehealth claims must carry modifiers BB or BC starting January 1, 2027; CMS says they do not affect payment.^[2]
• Clinic billing codes: from October 1, 2026, rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers bill non-behavioral telehealth with the specific service codes instead of code G2025.^[2]
• 2027 fee schedule: CMS issued its proposed 2027 Physician Fee Schedule on July 14, 2026, including a change so that in-person visit requirements for clinic mental health visits do not apply through December 31, 2027.^[5] CMS adds or removes Medicare telehealth services each January 1 through this annual rule, with the final rule published by November 1.^[6]

What changes on January 1, 2028

Unless Congress extends the flexibilities again, starting January 1, 2028:^[2]

1. Except for behavioral health, you will generally need to be in a medical facility in a rural area to get Medicare telehealth.
2. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists can no longer furnish Medicare telehealth.
3. Hospitals can no longer bill for therapy, diabetes training and nutrition services furnished remotely to you at home.
4. Audio-only at home is limited to behavioral health, when the practitioner can do video and you cannot or do not consent to video.
5. In-person visit rules apply to mental health telehealth, as described above.

How to use Medicare telehealth

1. Ask your provider whether a visit can be done by video or phone and whether they accept Medicare assignment.^[1]
2. Check your Part B deductible status; until you meet it, you pay the Medicare-approved amount yourself.^[1]
3. If you have Medicare Advantage, check your plan’s telehealth copay, since plans may offer more telehealth benefits.^[1]
4. For mental health care, plan an in-person visit in 2028 if you see a provider by telehealth from home.^[2]