Telehealth & Medicare
Recent federal updates have affected how Medicare covers telehealth services starting October 1, 2025. Routine telehealth appointments are not currently covered by Medicare. At this time, routine telehealth appointments remain covered by Valley Medical Center, and our teams are closely monitoring for further guidance from Medicare.
During the current government shutdown, Valley will continue to provide and accept Medicare telehealth appointments, and patients will not be billed for any additional out-of-pocket costs related to these visits. If the federal government makes permanent changes to how Medicare covers telehealth in the future, our policy may need to change accordingly. We will keep patients updated as new information becomes available.
This page answers common questions and helps you understand your options. Learn more and get the latest updated on the Medicare website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Telehealth includes medical or behavioral health services delivered via audio/video communication, or—where allowed—audio-only technology. Examples include virtual office visits, counseling, consultations, and evaluations.
Beginning October 1, 2025, Medicare will no longer cover general video telehealth visits for routine care. After that date, for most telehealth services, you will generally need to be in a rural medical facility or office for your visit to qualify for Medicare coverage.
However, some telehealth services will still be covered regardless of location, including mental/behavioral health, certain dialysis-related visits, and acute stroke evaluations.
No. During the government shutdown, Valley will continue to honor telehealth visits for Medicare patients at no additional cost.
No. Even under the current federal rules, some services will continue to be covered, related to behavioral health, home dialysis oversight, or urgent conditions (e.g., stroke evaluation).
During the government shutdown, virtual urgent care video visits will remain available and covered by Valley for Medicare patients. If the federal coverage rules change permanently, this will be reassessed.
Yes. Valley will continue to honor all scheduled Medicare telehealth visits during the government shutdown without additional out-of-pocket costs. If federal rules change in the future, we will contact impacted patients directly to help avoid any unexpected charges.
Medicare Advantage plans may offer telehealth benefits beyond what Original Medicare covers. Always check your plan documents or contact your plan to confirm your coverage.
- No action is needed at this time. Your Medicare visits remain covered during the government shutdown.
- Continue to watch for updates on Valley Medical Center’s website and on Medicare’s website for information on any permanent federal changes.
- Contact your Valley clinic if you have questions or want to confirm or reschedule a telehealth appointment.
Note: This page is informational and not a substitute for professional medical or insurance advice. Coverage depends on many factors such as location, type of service, and your plan.