Key Takeaways

• The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 aims to make pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities permanent for Medicare patients.
• Pending legislation seeks to remove geographic restrictions and eliminate in-person visit requirements for telemental health.
• If the bill fails, telehealth access for Medicare patients will revert to pre-pandemic limitations and reduced convenience.
• Telemedicine remains vital for rural patients, reducing travel burdens and improving access to behavioral and specialty care.
• States like California are advancing parallel telehealth legislation focused on oversight, access, and data exchange improvements.