Medicare telehealth flexibilities for hospice face-to-face encounters expired Jan. 30, 2026, after Congress failed to finalize a full-year funding package before the deadline. Hospices should currently assume face-to-face recertifications must be completed in person unless and until Congress acts.
Late last week, the Senate passed a fiscal year 2026 funding package that includes a two-year extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities through Dec. 31, 2027, including hospice face-to-face encounters. The bill still requires House approval. A partial federal government shutdown is underway, and the House is expected to vote this week, possibly as early as Tuesday, Feb. 3.
If enacted, the legislation would likely apply retroactively to cover the brief lapse, though retroactive authority is not guaranteed. National associations, including LeadingAge, continue to recommend a conservative compliance approach during the lapse.
What this would mean for hospice
The funding package includes hospice-specific guardrails related to telehealth face-to-face encounters. Under the proposed language, hospice face-to-face encounters could not be conducted via telehealth if:
The bill would also require CMS to establish a claims modifier indicating when a hospice face-to-face encounter is completed via telehealth, beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
What to do now
LeadingAge Ohio is monitoring House action and will share updates as soon as there is clarity.