In February 2025, a rumor spread that Medicare would stop covering telehealth services — which allow patients to access health care remotely using digital technology — as of April 1, 2025.
On Feb. 20, 2025, U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, posted an image on X that said Medicare would "stop covering most telehealth services (phone and video visits)" from the beginning of April (archived). It also said people with a telehealth appointment after that date might be contacted to switch to an in-person appointment. At the time of this writing, the post had amassed 2.9 million views.
Khanna also posted a video to TikTok including the same image. In it, he told viewers: "Breaking news, the Trump administration just announced that Medicare will stop covering telehealth starting April 1. This is going to be devastating for so many seniors who are homebound or don't live close to a doctor's office."
The claim spread further on Facebook and X and // Reddit and Instagram (archived, archived, archived, archived). Snopes readers also sent us examples of the rumor, including the image Khanna posted above, and asked whether it was true.
It is true that some telehealth services were set to come to an end after March 31, 2025, if Congress does not step in to push back the date.
In March 2020, the first Trump administration expanded Medicare telehealth coverage to enable people to access a wider range of health care services during the coronavirus pandemic. These telehealth waivers were a temporary measure, with some of the most significant changes including the removal of location restrictions, full provider reimbursement for telehealth visits and the allowance of telehealth prescription of controlled substances. The waivers were due to end on Dec. 31, 2024.
At the close of that year, Congress passed another extension of Medicare telehealth coverage as part of the American Relief Act 2025. Then-President Joe Biden signed the bill into law. Telehealth flexibilities extended until March 31, 2025, included:
(a) Removing geographical requirements and expanding originating sites for telehealth services
(b) Expanding practitioners eligible to furnish telehealth services
(c) Extending telehealth services for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics
(d) Delaying the in-person requirements under Medicare for mental health services furnished through telehealth and telecommunications technology
(e) Allowing for the furnishing of audio-only telehealth services
(f) Extending use of telehealth to conduct face-to-face encounters prior to recertification of eligibility for hospice care
However, an earlier version of this stopgap funding bill was expected to extend pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities for two years. It passed in its current form in order to avoid a government shut down in December 2024.
Without action from Congress, some of these telehealth flexibilities will expire on March 31, 2025.
Medicare says on its website that, until this date, patients will be able to access telehealth services at any location in the U.S., including their home. Starting April 1, it says, patients must be in an office or medical facility located in a rural area for most telehealth services. Those who do not live in a rural area will still be able to access some telehealth services, including monthly home dialysis visits for end-stage renal disease and some services for an acute stroke and a mental or behavioral health disorder.
Khanna told us via email that the screenshot he posted was from a California constituent. Referencing the potential government shut down that led to the passing of the American Relief Act 2025, he said:
President Trump and Elon Musk blew up the continuing resolution last December that would have extended these telehealth authorities by two years. Trump should work with Congress to extend telehealth coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. I support the extension, and Trump has not done anything to push Republicans to extend it.
Some other agencies have extended other telehealth services involving medication.
On Nov. 19, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Health and Human Services issued a third extension of a pandemic-era rule that allowed the prescription of controlled medications until Dec. 31, 2025. The DEA also announced three new rules on Jan. 16, 2025, that made some temporary telemedicine flexibilities permanent. These provisions allow patients access to medication such as buprenorphine, which is used to treat opioid use disorder. They also establish special registrations to permit a patient to receive prescribed medications without an in-person medical evaluation, as well as a rule that allows a veteran patient to require only one in-person medical examination to engage with certain practitioners.