KZA Alert: Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 & Extended Telehealth Flexibilities
Congress has passed, and the President has signed, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 (H.R. 7148), delivering a major win for Medicare telehealth. The legislation extends pandemic-era Medicare telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2027, providing much-needed stability for practices and patients alike.
In this KZA Alert, we break down what the extension includes:
- Continued access to home-based Medicare telehealth services
- Ongoing coverage for audio-only telehealth visits
- Removal of geographic and originating site restrictions
- Continued authorization for RHCs and FQHCs to serve as distant-site telehealth providers
- Extended flexibility for behavioral health and hospice recertification via telehealth
- An extension of the Acute Hospital Care at Home program through 2030
- Upcoming new CMS telehealth billing modifiers expected in 2027
This fast, focused update is designed to help practice leaders, coders, billers, and compliance teams understand what’s changed, how long these policies will remain in effect, and what to watch next as Medicare telehealth policy continues to evolve.
Creators and Guests
Host
Olivia Wolf
Olivia J. Wolf, MBA, CPC, is a seasoned healthcare executive with more than 25 years of experience across medical coding, revenue cycle, clinical operations, practice administration, and business development.
