CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Thompson (CA)
Introduced
Summary
Expands Medicare telehealth access by removing geographic limits and ending an in-person requirement for telemental health. It would also change payment rules for clinics and require more oversight, training, and data reporting.
Show full summary
- Medicare beneficiaries would be able to receive telehealth across geographies beginning October 1, 2025. Telemental health would no longer require a six-month in-person visit and tribal and Native Hawaiian facilities would be exempt from originating-site rules starting January 1, 2026.
- Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics would be paid for telehealth under outpatient or prospective payment methods and telehealth costs as distant-site care would count as allowable PPS costs. The HHS Secretary could waive limits on which practitioner types may furnish telehealth starting October 1, 2025 with annual public comment and a three-year reassessment requirement.
- The bill would strengthen program integrity funding for telehealth, require CMS to post quarterly telehealth data, and add telehealth to quality-measure reviews within 180 days. It also mandates a beneficiary engagement study and a Government Accountability Office report on hospice recertification within three years.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Stronger oversight and public telehealth data
If enacted, HHS would identify and notify providers with unusually high Medicare telehealth billing, and Telehealth Resource Centers would train those providers. CMS would post quarterly public data on who uses telehealth and recent effects on Medicare spending and use, starting within 180 days. The bill would authorize $3 million each year for fiscal years 2026–2030 for Inspector General audits and investigations on telehealth. It would also clarify that providers may give patients certain telehealth or remote‑monitoring tech without violating fraud rules, if not used for advertising and they meet HHS conditions.
More Medicare telehealth at clinics and tribal sites
If enacted, Medicare telehealth visits at Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics would count as clinic outpatient visits. Starting October 1, 2025, those visits would be paid under the clinic payment systems, and clinic costs for distant‑site telehealth would count. The bill would end the six‑month in‑person rule for telemental health. It would expand originating‑site rules on enactment and lift geographic limits after September 30, 2025. For care on or after January 1, 2026, Indian Health Service, tribal, and Native Hawaiian sites would not need certain originating‑site rules, and no facility fee could be charged when only that exemption applies.
Emergency telehealth waivers during public health emergencies
If enacted, public health emergencies declared after this bill would count as emergency periods for special waiver rules. That would let HHS use telehealth‑specific waivers during those emergencies to keep care available.
More clinicians allowed for Medicare telehealth
If enacted, starting October 1, 2025, the Secretary could waive limits on which clinicians may provide Medicare telehealth when it is clinically appropriate. The Secretary could set safeguards, take public comment at least yearly, and review waivers at least every three years. Waivers found no longer appropriate would end.
Telehealth training, quality measures, and reports
If enacted, within six months HHS would issue resources and training to help people with limited English and disabilities use telehealth, and would train providers on payment, privacy, and engaging underserved groups. HHS would review telehealth quality measures within 180 days, publish guidance and best practices, and report to Congress within two years. The Government Accountability Office would report to Congress within three years on hospice recertification by telehealth and related oversight. Funds would be authorized as needed for the education and study work.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Cosponsors
Schweikert
AZ • R
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Matsui
CA • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Balderson
OH • R
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Bacon
NE • R
Sponsored 6/30/2025
Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
Sponsored 6/30/2025
Case
HI • D
Sponsored 6/30/2025
Gottheimer
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Kim
CA • R
Sponsored 7/25/2025
Clarke (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Subramanyam
VA • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
McClellan
VA • D
Sponsored 8/12/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 8/22/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 8/22/2025
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 8/22/2025
Tokuda
HI • D
Sponsored 8/22/2025
Torres (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 8/22/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Landsman
OH • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Cisneros
CA • D
Sponsored 8/29/2025
Carbajal
CA • D
Sponsored 8/29/2025
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Golden (ME)
ME • D
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Lynch
MA • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Guest
MS • R
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Gimenez
FL • R
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Panetta
CA • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Larsen (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Bynum
OR • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Beatty
OH • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
DeSaulnier
CA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Bresnahan
PA • R
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Menendez
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Scott, David
GA • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Meng
NY • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
McClain Delaney
MD • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Stevens
MI • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Liccardo
CA • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Foster
IL • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Conaway
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Deluzio
PA • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Hayes
CT • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Amodei (NV)
NV • R
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Vargas
CA • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Raskin
MD • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Frankel, Lois
FL • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Scholten
MI • D
Sponsored 10/14/2025
Goodlander
NH • D
Sponsored 10/14/2025
Sykes
OH • D
Sponsored 10/14/2025
Huffman
CA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Amo
RI • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Frost
FL • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Mfume
MD • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Himes
CT • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Ciscomani
AZ • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Schmidt
KS • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Ivey
MD • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Bera
CA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Salinas
OR • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Brownley
CA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Ansari
AZ • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Keating
MA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Garamendi
CA • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Schneider
IL • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Houlahan
PA • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Wasserman Schultz
FL • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Fields
LA • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Tonko
NY • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Harder (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Trahan
MA • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Olszewski
MD • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Gonzalez, V.
TX • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
McIver
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Cuellar
TX • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Goldman (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Dexter
OR • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Randall
WA • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Bell
MO • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Latimer
NY • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Garbarino
NY • R
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Brown
OH • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Johnson (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Torres (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Waters
CA • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Horsford
NV • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Kiggans (VA)
VA • R
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Morelle
NY • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Strickland
WA • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Davids (KS)
KS • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Nunn (IA)
IA • R
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Valadao
CA • R
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Obernolte
CA • R
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Ruiz
CA • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Pettersen
CO • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Turner (OH)
OH • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Johnson (SD)
SD • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Evans (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Cleaver
MO • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Suozzi
NY • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Velazquez
NY • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Figures
AL • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 11/10/2025
Perez
WA • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]
GU • R
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Yakym
IN • R
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Tenney
NY • R
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Leger Fernandez
NM • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Baumgartner
WA • R
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
VI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Miller (WV)
WV • R
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Lee (NV)
NV • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Quigley
IL • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Carter (LA)
LA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Hoyle (OR)
OR • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Steube
FL • R
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sanchez
CA • D
Sponsored 11/21/2025
Sorensen
IL • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Kelly (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Hurd (CO)
CO • R
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
LaMalfa
CA • R
Sponsored 12/2/2025
Moore (UT)
UT • R
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Kamlager-Dove
CA • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Castor (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Moore (WI)
WI • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Fedorchak
ND • R
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Mannion
NY • D
Sponsored 12/5/2025
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 12/5/2025
Bergman
MI • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Balint
VT • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Wittman
VA • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Mann
KS • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Harrigan
NC • R
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Kiley (CA)
CA • R
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Rogers (KY)
KY • R
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Fletcher
TX • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Wilson (SC)
SC • R
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Pocan
WI • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Hoyer
MD • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Boyle (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rutherford
FL • R
Sponsored 12/16/2025
De La Cruz
TX • R
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Morrison
MN • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Whitesides
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Dean (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Stauber
MN • R
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Lawler
NY • R
Sponsored 12/19/2025
Westerman
AR • R
Sponsored 12/23/2025
Garcia (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 1/8/2026
Mackenzie
PA • R
Sponsored 1/9/2026
Rulli
OH • R
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Pou
NJ • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Clyburn
SC • D
Sponsored 1/16/2026
Moskowitz
FL • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Titus
NV • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Stanton
AZ • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Escobar
TX • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Miller (OH)
OH • R
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Stefanik
NY • R
Sponsored 1/21/2026
Salazar
FL • R
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Hill (AR)
AR • R
Sponsored 1/23/2026
Lee (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Foushee
NC • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
McGarvey
KY • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rivas
CA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Kelly (PA)
PA • R
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Gomez
CA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Walkinshaw
VA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Veasey
TX • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Evans (CO)
CO • R
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Fischbach
MN • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Pappas
NH • D
Sponsored 2/5/2026
Beyer
VA • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Larson (CT)
CT • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Langworthy
NY • R
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Scanlon
PA • D
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Green, Al (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Crow
CO • D
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Garcia (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Nadler
NY • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Omar
MN • D
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Hageman
WY • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in