Hospice Face-To-Face Encounter and Telehealth Technology Extended Through January 30, 2026

Published 11/26/2025

Section 6208 of the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 extended the use of telehealth by a hospice physician or hospice nurse practitioner to conduct a face-to-face encounter for the sole purpose of hospice recertification. This extension is through January 30, 2026. This constitutes a temporary change in the regulations at 42 CFR 418.22(a)(4)(ii).

A telehealth encounter must be two-way audio-video telecommunications technology that allows for real-time interaction between the hospice physician/hospice nurse practitioner and the patient. An encounter by audio or video only is not acceptable. 


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