Congress has extended most Medicare telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2027, including home-based visits, audio-only services, and expanded provider eligibility. For dermatology practices with telederm programs, this provides two more years of stability — but the lack of permanent legislation means the risk of disruption hasn’t gone away.
What’s Extended
- Home-based telehealth visits — patients can receive Medicare telehealth services from home (no originating site requirement)
- Audio-only services — phone-only visits remain covered for applicable codes
- Expanded provider eligibility — broader range of providers can bill telehealth
- Geographic flexibility — no rural/urban restrictions on telehealth location
The October 2025 Lapse Warning
During the October 2025 government shutdown, a brief lapse in telehealth authorization created chaos. Practices had days of uncertainty about whether they could continue telederm services. The lapse was resolved quickly, but it exposed how fragile the current authorization structure is.
None of these provisions are permanent legislation. They require periodic congressional reauthorization, which means every extension cycle carries risk. Don’t build your practice model on the assumption that telehealth rules are settled.
What Dermatology Practices Should Do
- Continue telederm programs with confidence through 2027
- Track telehealth revenue as a percentage of total revenue so you understand your exposure if rules change
- Maintain proper POS coding — use POS 11 + Modifier 95 for Medicare (see our POS code guide)
- Advocate for permanent legislation through AAD and specialty societies
- Build contingency plans for a scenario where flexibilities aren’t renewed beyond 2027
Key Takeaways
- Telehealth flexibilities extended through December 31, 2027
- Home-based visits, audio-only, and expanded eligibility all continue
- These are NOT permanent — they require periodic reauthorization
- The October 2025 lapse showed the fragility of the current structure
- Track your telehealth revenue exposure and build contingency plans