Medicare now covers phone-call doctor visits for seniors

What it does

This bill amends Medicare law to allow Medicare to pay for telehealth services delivered by audio-only (phone calls), not just video. Currently, Medicare covers telehealth only when delivered via video or in-person; this bill extends coverage to audio-only consultations, effective from the start of a declared emergency period.

Why we flagged it

The bill's sole operative function is to expand the modalities through which Medicare reimburses telehealth services—specifically adding audio-only delivery to the existing covered set. This is a straightforward coverage rule change.

What the text implies

• The bill ties audio-only coverage to an 'emergency period' (section 1135(g)(1)(B)), meaning coverage may be temporary or contingent on a declared emergency—the permanence of this benefit is unclear from the bill text alone.
• Audio-only telehealth may increase utilization of lower-cost services, potentially reducing in-person visit volume and associated travel burden for elderly/disabled beneficiaries, but may also shift some care to phone-based triage that could miss visual diagnostic cues.
• Expansion of audio-only coverage may incentivize telehealth providers to offer phone-based services, potentially increasing competition and access in rural or underserved areas where broadband is limited.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Medicare beneficiaries—primarily seniors and disabled persons—gain access to a lower-barrier telehealth option (phone calls require no broadband, camera, or technical setup). This expands care access for populations with limited digital infrastructure or comfort with video technology.

Who stands to gain

• Medicare beneficiaries (seniors and disabled persons)
• Telehealth service providers offering audio-only consultations

Named in the bill

Medicare (Title XVIII, Social Security Act), Secretary of Health and Human Services, Section 1834(m)(9), Social Security Act, Section 1135(g)(1)(B), Social Security Act

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Democrats.

• Mar 6, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Mar 6, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means and House Committee on Energy and Commerce · Congress.gov: “Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a…”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

6 lobbying clients named this bill on 8 disclosure filings across 2 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $3,519,021 in lobbying spend. A filing names 10 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 82% of bills with at least one filing.

Randy Feenstra, the sponsor, reported $570,750 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• America's Health Insurance Plans Inc (ahip) — $3,010,000 on 1 filing
• Alliance for Connected Care — $200,000 on 1 filing
• American College of Physician Services, Inc. — $123,492 on 1 filing
• American College of Physicians — $85,529 on 1 filing
• Ata Action — $60,000 on 2 filings

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.