The Telehealth Policy Map Just Got More Complicated — Here’s How to Read It 

By Elena Pak, Credentialing Department, WCH  

What You Need to Know Before Reading Further 

The headline is simple: Medicare telehealth flexibilities are extended through 2027. The reality beneath that headline is not. This piece is for anyone who manages telehealth operations, contracts, or compliance across more than one payer — which, in practice, means nearly everyone in the field. 

Five things to keep in mind as you read: 

• The extension covers Original Medicare only. Full stop. 

• CTBS services — virtual check-ins, e-visits, remote evaluations — were never part of the waiver system and remain permanently available regardless of what Congress does next. 

• Medicare Advantage must meet the Medicare floor, but plans vary significantly above it. 

• States have been making their own permanent telehealth policy for years and are not waiting on federal signals. 

The ACCESS Model, launching July 2026, represents a structural payment shift that will matter more long-term than any single waiver extension.