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HR7444119th CongressWALLET

Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act

Sponsored By: Representative Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would expand Medicare telehealth access by removing geographic limits and phasing in broader home-based telehealth beginning January 1, 2027. It would also set new payment rules for rural providers and allow certain audio-only visits.

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  • Families and Medicare patients: More beneficiaries could receive telehealth from home once the Jan 1, 2027 phase begins, lifting current geographic limits.
  • Rural hospitals and clinics: Critical Access Hospitals could be paid 101 percent of reasonable costs for telehealth or choose another payment method. Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics would get a separate telehealth rate that considers geography and full telehealth costs and must use qualified providers.
  • Audio-only access and services: The bill would permit audio-only for select services like evaluation and management and behavioral health counseling and requires a five-year review of broadband rollout and whether audio-only remains necessary.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Audio-only telehealth paid like video

If enacted, certain Medicare telehealth services done by audio-only phone would count as telehealth starting January 1, 2027. Medicare would pay the same amount for these audio-only visits as for other authorized telehealth technology. Covered services would include evaluation and management and behavioral health counseling, and the Secretary could add other services. Many provider types would qualify, and the Secretary could decide clinical appropriateness and whether an in-person visit is required first. The Secretary would review broadband rollout five years after enactment and could add or remove services or codes.

Home allowed as Medicare telehealth site

If enacted, the bill would remove geographic limits and let the home be an originating telehealth site starting January 1, 2027. From enactment through December 31, 2026, the home could be used only for limited listed services and specific home-health purposes. Removing the geographic restriction and allowing broader home use would expand who can get Medicare telehealth at home after January 1, 2027.

New telehealth pay rules for rural clinics

If enacted, Medicare would create a separate telehealth payment rate and coding system for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics. The Secretary would have to set a payment method that considers geography and the full cost of telehealth. Starting January 1, 2027, Medicare payment for an FQHC or RHC telehealth visit would be allowed only when the center has an established patient relationship as defined by the State. The bill would also let Critical Access Hospitals be paid as distant-site telehealth providers and set payment to 101 percent of their reasonable costs unless the hospital chooses an alternative.

Store-and-forward telemedicine demos expanded

If enacted, the bill would remove the phrase limiting a federal store-and-forward telemedicine demonstration to Alaska or Hawaii. This change would let federal store-and-forward telemedicine demos be run in other states upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]

NH • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 2/9/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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