How much damage did the federal shutdown do to telehealth?

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Congress’ failure to pass a spending bill at the end of September led to the expiration of Covid-era policies that expanded the telehealth services covered by Medicare. An early analysis from researchers at Brown University School of Public Health suggests an immediate impact. The portion of traditional Medicare visits conducted over telehealth dropped by 24% in the first 17 days of October compared to the preceding three months. In Medicare Advantage, it dropped by 13%. Many providers continued offering services as there was — and remains — an expectation they will be retroactively pai