Well, if you haven’t heard the great news on the telehealth front, Medicare extended coverage for telehealth services through December 31, 2027. Telehealth services in senior care now play an important role in improving access to healthcare. They also reduce stressful and unnecessary trips outside the community for residents.

President Biden signed H.R. 7148, the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026,” on February 3, 2026. The law extends several current telehealth flexibilities. According to recent telehealth policy updates from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nursing homes do not need to apply for a waiver to use telehealth services. Medicare also continues covering telehealth services for non-behavioral and non-mental healthcare in residents’ homes without geographic restrictions. Current policies also allow audio-only communication for non-behavioral and non-mental health services.

All good news for our residents, right? Researchers also published an interesting finding in JAMA Open Network regarding telemedicine visits. Across nearly 700 pediatric primary care practices, providers prescribed antibiotics in 34.6% of telemedicine visits compared with 46.8% of in-person visits. Telemedicine does not allow practitioners to visualize the tympanic membrane. It also limits rapid diagnostic testing for streptococcal pharyngitis, where many infections “live.” Those limitations may explain some of the prescribing differences. As always, nothing is absolute in medicine!

At the end of the day, communities benefit from having the “luxury” of telemedicine for another 1.5 years. Healthcare providers can access services without bundling up residents and sending them to the emergency room. Communities should continue evaluating how telehealth services in senior care can support resident care, improve access, and reduce unnecessary disruptions for residents. If you need guidance on policy or practice, take a look at HealthCap’s Telemedicine Toolkit at HealthCapUSA.com.

Stay well and stay informed!