# 119-hr-1899: Audio-Only Telehealth Access Act of 2025

119-hr-1899, Audio-Only Telehealth Access Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4] (R-IA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1899
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-1899
- Congress: 119
- Title: Audio-Only Telehealth Access Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-03-06
- Sponsor: Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4] (R-IA)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Authorizes Medicare payment for audio-only telehealth during a federal emergency.** This bill would let Medicare cover and pay for telehealth services delivered by audio-only communications systems when those services match the items listed in section 1834(m)(4)(F)(i) and are furnished during the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B). Coverage would take effect as of enactment for services provided during that emergency period and is limited to the listed services; it relies on existing 1135 emergency authority and does not create a separate sunset beyond that emergency period. - Medicare beneficiaries: People who lack video access could receive Medicare-covered visits by phone for the specific services listed in 1834(m)(4)(F)(i) during the emergency period. - Providers and clinicians: Clinicians would be able to bill and receive Medicare payment for qualifying audio-only services furnished in that emergency window. - Program scope: The change is tied to the 1135(g)(1)(B) emergency period and only applies to the services identified in the statute, not a broader permanent expansion.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] (D-NH), 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Medicare coverage for phone visits: benefit, medium. If enacted, Medicare would cover and pay for some telehealth visits done by audio-only phone calls. It would cover only services on Medicare’s telehealth list as of enactment. It would apply to services on or after the first day of the 1135(g)(1)(B) emergency period. Coverage would last only during…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3816: Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1229: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025
- 119-hr-137: TCJA Permanency Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-1899 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1899)

## Related
- [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669)
- [119-hr-3816: Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3816)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2725)
- [119-hr-1229: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1229)
- [119-hr-137: TCJA Permanency Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-137)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1899 (as of 2026-04-21).