U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today introduced the “Telehealth Expansion Act” to make expanded access to telehealth services permanent.
“Many Montanans depend on telehealth services to provide health care access across our state, especially in rural communities where patients and families would otherwise have to drive long distances and face unpredictable weather conditions to receive care. This bipartisan bill expands the telehealth resources folks have come to rely on, and I’ll keep working to make sure Montanans have access to the care and services they need,” said Daines.
“Nevadans should have easy access to essential health care services regardless of where they live. This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will ensure families in rural communities don’t have to drive for hours to go to a routine doctor’s appointment that could be conducted virtually,” said Cortez Masto.
Read the bill text HERE.
Background:
The “Telehealth Expansion Act of 2025” will permanently allow first-dollar coverage of virtual care under high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) paired with a health savings account (HAS), allowing Montanans and all Americans to access telehealth services without the burden of first meeting a deductible.
Daines originally authored and passed a provision in the “CARES Act” and again in the “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023” to expand access to virtual care services during the pandemic.
Representatives Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Susie Lee (D-Nev.), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) introduced the companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Statements of Support:
“The Alliance to Fight for Health Care applauds Representatives Arrington and Schneider and Senators Daines and Cortez-Masto for leading the charge to help keep telehealth affordable. Access to care below the deductible provides peace of mind, knowing you can quickly get the care you need to address conditions before they worsen. This is vitally important for working families and everyday Americans — especially those in rural areas or those who are seeking tele-mental health care,”— Katy Johnson, President, American Benefits Council
“Employers and purchasers are dedicated to helping their workers access affordable care. PBGH applauds Congressional leaders for pushing to make permanent telehealth below the deductible. Telehealth can be a lifeline for those in rural areas and can be a life saver for those needing quick access to tele-mental health care,”—Elizabeth Mitchell, President and CEO of the Purchaser Business Group on Health
“The Health Savings Account Council strongly supports expanding flexibility for employers and health plans to offer high value services like telehealth before patients meet their deductibles. We applaud Senator Daines and Senator Cortez Masto and Chairman Arrington and Representative Schneider for their work to make this flexibility permanent and we encourage swift enactment,”— Kevin McKechnie, executive director of the American Bankers Association HSA Council
“For many Americans, telehealth is literally a lifesaver. Telehealth has become especially vital to working families, those in rural and isolated communities, in areas with clinical shortages and for those with mental and behavioral health needs. Employers strongly support public policy that expands the availability of this vital service. For this reason, we applaud Senators Daines and Cortez Masto, and Representatives Arrington and Schneider, for reintroducing legislation that would improve employee access to critical telehealth services,”—Ilyse Schuman, Senior Vice President, Health and Paid Leave Policy, at the American Benefits Council
“The Alliance for Connected Care is proud to support the Telehealth Expansion Act of 2025, which will ensure employers and plans can support patients through discounted virtual access to a range of health care services. This bill is important and timely, as it would restore crucial access to telehealth lost in December 2024. We look forward to working to ensure provisions from this bill are included in an upcoming legislative package,”— Chris Adamec, Executive Director, Alliance for Connected Care