The Future of Telehealth
What Medicare Policy Changes in 2025 Mean for Healthcare
Telehealth has come a long way in just a few short years, becoming a critical part of how we deliver and receive care. It’s more than just a pandemic-era trend; it’s here to stay.
With Medicare rolling out significant updates to its telehealth policies in 2025, healthcare leaders have a lot to consider. These changes bring new opportunities—and a few challenges—but the good news is that with the right strategies, you can stay ahead of the curve.
Let’s break down what’s happening, why it matters, and how you can prepare.
Key Medicare Telehealth Changes Coming in 2025
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have announced updates to telehealth policies effective January 1, 2025.
These changes include the addition of several services to the Medicare Telehealth Services List, such as caregiver training services on a provisional basis and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) counseling and safety planning interventions on a permanent basis.
Additionally, CMS will continue the suspension of frequency limitations for certain telehealth visits and permit the use of audio-only communication technology under specific conditions.
Medicare is expanding the list of services it covers under telehealth. That means more options for patients to get care from the comfort of their homes. Mental health check-ins, chronic condition management, and even specialty care are all on the table. This is a huge step toward making healthcare more accessible for everyone, especially those in underserved areas.
The way telehealth services are reimbursed is getting a bit of a makeover. During the pandemic, virtual visits were reimbursed at the same rate as in-person care. In 2025, those rates might shift to encourage more efficient use of resources. If you’re a healthcare leader, now’s the time to crunch the numbers and figure out how to make these changes work for your organization.
With great convenience comes great responsibility. Starting in 2025, providers will face tighter rules for offering telehealth services. Think data security, proper documentation, and meeting licensing requirements. It’s all about ensuring quality care and protecting patient information—but it does mean providers will need to stay on top of the regulations to avoid headaches down the line.
Remember the temporary waivers that made telehealth easier during the pandemic? Things like removing geographic restrictions and loosening rules on where telehealth visits could take place? Many of those changes are becoming permanent, which is great news for both providers and patients.
What This Means for Healthcare Leaders
A World of Opportunities
Expanding telehealth services opens doors to reach more patients, improve care, and embrace value-based care models. It’s a great chance to enhance chronic disease management, reduce hospital readmissions, and streamline follow-ups—all while keeping patients engaged and satisfied.
Some Challenges to Tackle
Of course, every opportunity comes with its hurdles. Reimbursement adjustments mean you’ll need to reassess financial strategies. And those stricter compliance rules? They’ll require investment in training, better workflows, and solid technology.
Telehealth and Value-Based Care Go Hand-in-Hand
Telehealth isn’t just convenient—it’s also a smart way to deliver value-based care. It helps reduce costs while improving outcomes, giving patients better access and making healthcare more equitable.
How BHM Can Help
Change can feel overwhelming, but that’s where we come in. At BHM Healthcare Solutions, we’re here to help healthcare organizations like yours navigate these updates smoothly. Whether it’s staying compliant, optimizing reimbursement, or integrating telehealth into your strategy, we’ve got your back.
Here’s how we can support you:
- Compliance Made Simple: We’ll help you pinpoint gaps and get your telehealth services in line with the new rules.
- Smart Telehealth Strategies: From implementation to optimization, we’ll make sure your virtual care setup works for you and your patients.
- Reimbursement Insights: Let’s work together to make sense of the changes and ensure you’re getting the most out of them.
We’re all about helping you focus on what matters—providing great care—while we handle the complicated stuff.
Why Acting Now is Key
The 2025 Medicare updates are a big deal, and waiting too long to adjust could mean falling behind. By getting ahead of these changes, you’ll be better equipped to thrive in this new telehealth landscape. So, let’s tackle this together.
Reach out to BHM today. We’ll help you turn these policy updates into opportunities for growth and success.
References
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule. Available at: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/calendar-year-cy-2025-medicare-physician-fee-schedule-final-rule. Accessed January 7, 2025.
American Medical Association. Summary of 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule. Available at: https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/ama-2025-mpfs-summary.pdf. Accessed January 7, 2025.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Telehealth Services Updates – 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Available at: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/r12975cp.pdf. Accessed January 7, 2025.
Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law. CMS Finalizes Telehealth Changes in 2025 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Rule. Available at: https://www.ctel.org/breakingnews/breaking-news-cms-finalizes-telehealth-changes-in-2025-physician-fee-schedule-pfs-rule. Accessed January 7, 2025.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Expanded Services and Telehealth Updates for 2025. Available at: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/calendar-year-cy-2025-expanded-telehealth-services. Accessed January 7, 2025.
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