# 119-s-2709: Telehealth Modernization Act

119-s-2709, Telehealth Modernization Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC] (R-SC); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-13).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2709
- As of: 2026-06-13
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2709
- Congress: 119
- Title: Telehealth Modernization Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-04
- Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC] (R-SC)
- Cosponsors: 15
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-06-13

## Summary

**Would extend and expand Medicare telehealth flexibilities to keep audio-only visits, broaden originating sites, and bring more virtual prevention and home-based care into Medicare.** It also clarifies clinic payment for 2026–2027, adds oversight tools, and requires telehealth claim modifiers for certain hospice encounters. - Families and beneficiaries: Would keep audio-only telehealth through September 30, 2027 and let more originating sites receive telehealth. It would allow virtual Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) services online for 2026–2030 and let beneficiaries receive MDPP across state lines for payment. - Providers and clinics: Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics would have a payment rule for telehealth services in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 and could treat telehealth costs as allowable under their payment methods. Hospices would need a telehealth modifier on face-to-face encounters before recertification starting January 1, 2026. - Medicare program and care models: Would extend the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver through 2030 with required studies and reports, add a Master List and prepayment reviews for certain durable medical equipment starting January 1, 2028, and require an Inspector General fraud analysis for lab tests in 2026.

## Cosponsors (15)

- Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS] (R-MS), 2025-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2025-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC), 2025-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2025-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (R-AK), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] (R-WV), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] (R-TN), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA] (D-GA), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR] (R-AR), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA] (D-GA), 2025-12-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV] (R-WV), 2025-12-18T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Hospital-at-home waiver extended to 2030: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver would be extended through 2030. That would keep hospital-at-home options available to Medicare patients until 2030. The bill would also require an initial study and a follow-up study on outcomes and patient experience.
- Keep Medicare telehealth flexibilities: benefit, medium. If enacted, several Medicare telehealth rules would be extended through Sept 30, 2027. Audio-only telehealth authority would continue through Sept 30, 2027. The start date for required in-person mental health visits would shift to Oct 1, 2027. Telehealth services you get from an FQHC or Rural Healt…
- Online Medicare diabetes prevention access: benefit, medium. If enacted, an organization could offer only online Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program services from Jan 1, 2026 through Dec 31, 2030 if it meets supplier rules. The supplier must list its administrative address in the Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program. Suppliers could bill even if the bene…
- Stricter checks on medical equipment claims: mixed, medium. If enacted, starting Jan 1, 2028 Medicare could add some durable medical equipment items to a Master List and check claims before paying. An item may be flagged if many orders came from a clinician who had not billed the patient in the Secretary's look-back period of at least 24 months. If an item…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.
- 119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for the State of Michigan.
- 119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for the State of California.

## Sources
- [119-s-2709 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2709)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former S…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-755)
- [119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-739)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2709 (as of 2026-06-13).