More than 28 million Medicare beneficiaries used telemedicine services during the first year of the pandemic. This rapid adoption is due in part to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), who implemented policies allowing for greater flexibility when providing telemedicine services during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Maintaining and extending these policies is a top priority for the ACR, as telehealth is an important tool for our members and their patients’ access to care. Congress faces a deadline of January 30, 2026 to extend these flexibilities and a prevent another significant disruption to patient access to care.

The ACR supports Congress passing any telemedicine legislation that:  

• Codifies telemedicine flexibilities implemented under the COVID-19 public health emergency.  

• Continues parity of reimbursement for in-office visits and audio-visual visits from CMS.  
• Mitigates regulatory barriers to practicing interstate telemedicine.

Ask your lawmakers to act to act to make telehealth flexibilities permanent by January 30, 2026 and preserve patient access to this crucial resource! 

The ACR’s Legislative Action Center will allow you to contact your members of Congress with just a few clicks. Take a moment to send your letter today!