0
2

HEALTH Act of 2025

10/3/2025, 4:23 AM

Summary of Bill HR 5496

H.R. 5496, introduced in the 119th Congress on September 18, 2025, aims to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish permanent telehealth service payments by federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics under the Medicare program.

Congressional Summary of HR 5496

Helping Ensure Access to Local TeleHealth Act of 2025 or the HEALTH Act of 2025 

This bill modifies requirements relating to Medicare coverage of telehealth services, including services that are furnished by federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health clinics (RHCs).

Specifically, the bill expands coverage to include audio-only telehealth services. It also permanently allows FQHCs and RHCs to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner) for telehealth services and excludes such services from certain geographic restrictions. Payment must be made in the same manner as for non-telehealth services, rather than in accordance with a separate methodology determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Read the Full Bill

Formatted TextPDFFormatted XML

Current Status of Bill HR 5496

Bill HR 5496 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since September 18, 2025. Bill HR 5496 was introduced during Congress 119 and was introduced to the House on September 18, 2025.  Bill HR 5496's most recent activity was Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. as of September 18, 2025

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 5496

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
0
Republican Sponsors
1
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
1
Democrat Cosponsors
1
Republican Cosponsors
0
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 5496

Primary Policy Focus

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 5496

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for permanent payments for telehealth services furnished by federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics under the Medicare program.
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for permanent payments for telehealth services furnished by federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics under the Medicare program.

Comments

Sponsors and Cosponsors of HR 5496

Glenn Thompson
Glenn Thompson
PennsylvaniaRepublican
Jill N. Tokuda
Jill N. Tokuda
HawaiiDemocrat

Latest Bills

To require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time period during which licensees are required to commence construction of certain hydropower projects.
Bill HR 2072February 17, 2026
Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act
Bill S 2754February 17, 2026
Strategic Grazing to Reduce Risk of Wildfire Act
Bill S 1981February 17, 2026
Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act
Bill HR 6568February 17, 2026
Safe Vehicle Access for Survivors Act
Bill HR 2110February 17, 2026
MAP for Broadband Funding Act
Bill S 2585February 17, 2026
National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act of 2025
Bill S 3468February 17, 2026
SAT Streamlining Act
Bill S 3639February 17, 2026
Federal Mechanical Insulation Act
Bill HR 3474February 17, 2026
Protecting Global Fisheries Act of 2026
Bill S 1369February 17, 2026