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Shutdown second-longest in U.S. history, Medicare impacts continue

October 22, 2025

The U.S. federal government remains closed marking the second-longest funding lapse in U.S. history with no end in sight. The Senate has continued to vote on, but fail along party lines to pass a measure to reopen the government. A bill to pay military servicemembers who have continued to work without pay has been introduced and is scheduled for vote in the Senate later this week.

House members are expected to remain in recess in a district work period since passing the GOP-led funding measure over a month ago.

On October 15, CMS directed all Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to hold claims with dates of service of October 1, 2025, or later for services impacted by the expired Medicare legislative payment provisions passed under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025. However, CMS quickly reversed course October 16 and said it will limit the claims hold to only those services that are directly affected by the legislative provisions that expired on September 30, 2025, such as telehealth services. Claims for all other services will be processed and paid in a timely manner.

Telehealth services not related to behavioral health are no longer covered Medicare services. Medicare coverage has reverted to pre-COVID-19 public health emergency guideline levels (e.g., restricted to rural areas, patients cannot receive telehealth services in their home). The Agency's updated telehealth FAQs can be found here.

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