HEALTH Act of 2023

This bill makes permanent Medicare coverage for telehealth services provided by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), including audio-only visits. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries who use these services and the FQHCs/RHCs delivering them by removing location restrictions - allowing telehealth visits to occur regardless of the patient's geographic location. Key provisions include permanently covering audio-only telehealth (previously temporary), treating telehealth visits as equivalent to in-person visits for payment, and ensuring costs for telehealth are included in FQHC/RHC payment calculations. These changes simplify access to telehealth for rural and underserved communities while maintaining consistent Medicare reimbursement for providers.