What's covered through 2027
CMS's Telehealth FAQ, updated in October 2026, and Medicare.gov say that through December 31, 2027:
- You can get Medicare telehealth services anywhere in the U.S., including your home. You don't need to live in a rural area or go to a clinic.
- An extended range of practitioners can provide them, including physical and occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists.
- Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers can provide non-behavioral services by telehealth.
- Audio-only (phone) visits are allowed at home for many services.
Medicare.gov lists examples such as office visits, psychotherapy, cognitive assessments, depression screenings, diabetes self-management training, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and speech therapy. After the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026) you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, the same as in person.
What's permanent
Behavioral and mental health telehealth is permanent. CMS says the geographic and location limits were removed for good by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, so you can have counseling or psychiatry visits from home anywhere in Ohio, by video or by phone. Starting in 2028, an in-person visit will generally be needed within 6 months before your first tele-mental health visit, and once every 12 months after. If you start before 2028, CMS says you won't need the first in-person visit, only the yearly one after 2027.
Remote patient monitoring
Remote patient monitoring is a separate Part B service. If you have a chronic or acute condition, your provider can give you an internet-connected FDA medical device, such as a blood pressure cuff, scale or pulse oximeter, that sends readings automatically. It isn't tied to the 2027 telehealth deadline.
Making telehealth work in rural Ohio
- Ask your doctors which visits they offer by video or phone.
- Check your connection. If video is unreliable, ask whether a phone visit is allowed for that service.
- Use local clinics. Your Rural Health Clinic or community health center may offer telehealth.
- Plan for 2028. If you rely on non-behavioral telehealth from home, ask your provider what happens after December 31, 2027.
More in Medicare in rural and Appalachian Ohio. To compare plans from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
Medicare options in Appalachian Ohio
Plans, hospitals and clinics.
What is a Rural Emergency Hospital?
And why Ohio has none.
Air ambulance in Ohio
When Medicare pays.
Sources
- CMS — Telehealth FAQ (updated October 2026)
- Medicare.gov — Telehealth
- CMS — Remote patient monitoring
More questions in this guide
- Can I get an early prescription refill before a winter storm in Ohio?
- Does Medicare pay for a generator for oxygen or medical equipment?
- Does Medicare pay for an air ambulance in Ohio?
- Is there a Medicare special enrollment period after a disaster in Ohio?
- What happens to my Medicare after a flood in Ohio?
- What is a rural emergency hospital in Ohio?
- What Medicare options are there in Appalachian Ohio?
Part of the guide: Medicare in Rural and Appalachian Ohio · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a telehealth visit by phone only?
Through December 31, 2027, audio-only visits are allowed at home for many services. For mental and behavioral health, audio-only visits from home are permanent when you can't or don't want to use video.
Can my Rural Health Clinic or community health center see me by telehealth?
Yes. CMS says Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers can provide behavioral health by telehealth permanently and other services through December 31, 2027, with your home counting as the place you receive care.
What changes on January 1, 2028?
Unless Congress acts again, most non-behavioral telehealth will again require you to be at a medical facility in a rural area, and physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists can no longer provide Medicare telehealth. Mental health telehealth from home continues.
Does Medicare Advantage cover telehealth?
Medicare Advantage plans must cover the telehealth Original Medicare covers, and some offer more. Ask the plan which of your providers offer telehealth and what you would pay.
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