If Congress cannot pass legislation extending government funding before Oct. 1, the government will shut down and current Medicare telemedicine flexibilities will lapse on Sept. 30.
This includes waivers of geographic site requirements and audio-only services, which the Texas Medical Association and American Medical Association have long asked Congress to make permanent, including in TMA’s latest comments to federal officials on the 2026 Medicare physician fee schedule.
In past shutdowns, Congress passed legislation to reopen the government that made funding and policies retroactive to the effective date of the shutdown, AMA says, but cautions: “Physician practices may want to consider adjusting their patient schedules for telehealth services, however, as neither the likelihood nor the duration of a shutdown are known.”
Last Updated On
September 26, 2025
Originally Published On
September 26, 2025