Dive Brief:

Telehealth advocates and providers are urging Congress to let Medicare permanently pay for telehealth services as the longest government shutdown in U.S. history stretches into its second month.

The most recent short-term extension of telehealth flexibilities expired at the end of September after Congress failed to reach a consensus to fund the government. Virtual care access and reimbursement has been disrupted since. Now, more than 450 groups are pushing lawmakers to avoid a temporary fix in their next legislative package in a letter sent to House and Senate leadership on Tuesday.

The letter comes amid another looming telehealth deadline : Flexibilities that allow for remote prescriptions of controlled substances are set to lapse at the end of 2025.

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