On Friday, March 14, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) that completes Congress’ appropriations work for fiscal year (FY) 2025. The CR included another extension of the current Medicare coverage flexibilities for telehealth services, including another delay of the Medicare in-person visit requirement for coverage of telemental health services, through September 30, 2025. The bill was signed into law on March 15, 2025.
To press Congress on the critical need to preserve access to telemental health services, APA Services created an action alert for psychologists to educate their members of Congress about the likely impact of the Medicare in-person visit requirement and its disruptive effect on patient access to mental health treatment. In less than 2 weeks, a total of 3,637 advocates sent 11,077 messages to members of Congress on the need to further delay the in-person visit requirement. Thank you to all the members who participated.
APA Services supports efforts in Congress to repeal the Medicare in-person visit requirement for telemental health services through legislation such as the Behavioral Health Accessibility Act (H.R. 1867opens in new window) and the forthcoming Connect for Health Act. Most critically for psychologists, APA Services expects the Telemental Health Care Access Act (H.R. 3432opens in new window) to be reintroduced in May. In addition to repealing the Medicare in-person visit requirement, this bill would extend certain statutory Medicare telemental health coverage flexibilities to behavioral health services like Health Behavior Assessment and Intervention services. APA Services staff will continue to monitor developments in Congress concerning Medicare and telehealth.
For more information, contact Andrew Strickland.