Medicare telehealth, hospital-at-home payments extended in funding bill

President Trump signed a government funding bill to end the longest government shutdown ever, 43 days. Earlier this week, the Senate passed a bill which includes funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration through Sept. 30, but other government programs — including the Department of Health and Human Services — are funded only through Jan. 30, 2026. Eight Democrats joined 52 Republicans to meet the 60 votes needed to return the bill to the House. The legislation extends waivers for Medicare telehealth coverage and the hospital-at-home program through Jan. 30, 2026 and pays retroactively for virtual care services delivered during the shutdown. The American Hospital Association wants Congress to make the telehealth waivers permanent and extend the hospital-at-home program. (Becker’s Hospital Review article, 11/13/25)