By Derek Streat

What started as a convenience became essential during pandemic lockdowns. Now, virtual care plays a far greater role—helping healthcare systems balance the demand for care with a finite supply of caregivers. But virtual is no longer just a tech upgrade or a standalone option. It’s now an integrated part of modern healthcare, a modality that works alongside urgent care, nurse practitioners, providers, and in-person visits to get patients where they need to be when they need to be there.

Yet, even as virtual care becomes embedded in our patient care strategies, upcoming policy decisions will determine whether its progress continues or stalls.
Under the American Relief Act, extended at the end of 2024, federal telehealth waivers are set to expire in March. If these flexibilities and subsidies are not extended, health systems—especially those serving Medicare patients—will face real consequences, such as reduced access, reimbursement cuts, and operational challenges.

Rural hospitals, already on the brink, will be hit hardest. Nearly 30 percent of them are at risk of shutting down, strained by rising costs and financial losses. And what began as a temporary measure has become a lifeline for patients in farmlands, valleys, and small towns. Without these policies, millions could lose access, and an already fragile healthcare system will feel added pressure.

These expiring waivers keep telehealth convenient and protect millions of people's access.

Without action, patients could face geographic restrictions on telehealth, and rural clinics may lose the ability to provide remote care. Furthermore, behavioral health patients would have to complete in-person evaluations before accessing virtual treatment, and specialists could lose their ability to provide telehealth services. These rollbacks would reverse hard-won progress in patient access and provider flexibility.

Why virtual care must keep evolving
The demand for care is growing while the provider workforce is shrinking. That means health systems must be able to route patients to the right level of care, not just the next available doctor. And this is where real-time, multi-modal care can make a difference.

Not every patient needs to see a physician, and not every visit needs to happen in person. In concert with a range of modalities, virtual care plays a role in delivering care more efficiently and effectively. The challenge—and the opportunity—is ensuring patients are directed to the correct setting before they end up in an overcrowded ER or waiting weeks for an appointment.

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