Connecticut Health Law

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the federal government eased some of the restrictions placed on the provision of health care services through telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries. For example:

• Geographic site limitations were waived, permitting telehealth services to be furnished and received without location-based restrictions;
• Audio-only technology was permitted for a broader set of health care services;
• Initial and annual in-person visit requirements for behavioral/mental health telehealth services were suspended; and
• The list of providers who may offer services by telehealth was expanded.

These relaxed regulatory requirements were scheduled to expire on January 30, 2026 by the terms of the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026.

Federal Bill H.R. 7148 (the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (CAA)) would further extend these temporary telehealth flexibilities through 2027, but it has not been signed into law as of February 2, 2026. The House of Representatives passed the bill on January 22, 2026, but on January 30, 2026 the Senate made changes to the bill (unrelated to the telehealth law) and sent it back to the House. The amended bill is scheduled to be considered by the House this week.

Although the collective wisdom of both industry and legislative leaders is that the current Medicare rules on telehealth will be extended and perhaps become permanent, health care providers may find themselves in an uncertain position as they wait to see if the amended CAA will be enacted and, if so, whether extension of the Medicare telehealth flexibilities will be made retroactive to January 31, 2026. For now, providers should keep a close eye on legislative developments in this area, and we will report on the final outcome of this issue.

Providers in Connecticut should also keep in mind that these Medicare rules do not affect the provision of telehealth services to patients covered by commercial plans under CGS §19a-906.

If you would like more information about the Medicare telehealth rules or how these rules may affect your practice, please contact a Pullman & Comley Health Care attorney.