Foley Attorneys on Medicare Telehealth Coverage – 'Everyone thought telehealth was bipartisan and safe'

Foley & Lardner LLP attorneys Marika Miller and Alexandra Maulden are quoted in the Pulmonology Advisor article, “Pandemic Expansion of Medicare Telehealth Coverage Set to End March 31,” offering insight on the state of telehealth regulations.

“Everyone thought telehealth was bipartisan and safe,” Miller commented. “Then, within days, that was thrown into doubt, and the health care community was left scrambling to make something work,” she continued, referencing the just three-month extension granted to Medicare telehealth flexibilities as part of an appropriations bill passed at the end of 2024 to avoid a government shutdown.

“The worst part is that hospitals and health systems — especially the larger ones — don’t have the luxury of waiting to see what happens next,” Miller added. “They have to prepare as if telehealth could disappear, because three months isn’t enough time to make meaningful, long-term changes.”

Maulden highlighted how hospitals were not planning for telehealth to end, underscoring its integral value to health care providers and patients. “When the extension was suddenly cut short, it wasn’t just about tweaking budgets — it meant scrambling to figure out how to sustain operations and meet patient demand,” she said.

“Health systems have been operating under the assumption that telehealth would be a long-term solution,” Maulden emphasized. “They’re not just worried about Medicare; private insurers often follow Medicare’s lead. If Medicare pulls back, it could trigger a cascade of changes across the board.”