H.R. 6296 — Advancing Access to Telehealth Act

This section makes permanent certain Medicare telehealth flexibilities provided during and after the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE, beginning January 27, 2020) that were previously scheduled to expire on September 30, 2025, by (1) eliminating geographic and originating site restrictions for certain services furnished on or after the first day of the PHE; (2) expanding the types of practitioners eligible to furnish telehealth services beginning on the first day of the PHE; (3) allowing Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health clinics (RHCs) to furnish telehealth services beginning on the first day of the PHE; and (4) permitting audio-only telecommunications for mental health services furnished by FQHCs and RHCs on or after the first day of the PHE. The section further eliminates prior in-person requirements for (1) monthly end-stage renal disease (ESRD)-related visits for home dialysis patients, substantial stroke rehabilitation services, and substance use disorder or mental health services by striking temporary paragraphs (5) through (7) of subsection (m); and (2) mental health telehealth visits furnished by FQHCs or RHCs by removing the "prior to October 1, 2025" limitation. (Thus, these changes remove statutory geographic, site-of-service, practitioner, and in-person barriers to Medicare telehealth originally waived under section 1135 during the PHE.)