As a consequence of the temporary way it was funded, Congress has had to renew Medicare telehealth coverage roughly annually, or even twice a year, since 2021. This latest termination is linked to the government shutdown that began Wednesday: Medicare telehealth funds were tied to the failed continuing resolution for the federal budget, which would have funded government operations for just seven more weeks. Multiple bills across multiple recent sessions of Congress would have extended that coverage either for a two-year period or more permanently. The president of the American Medical Association has also argued in support of making telehealth coverage permanent for people on Medicare. Kelley also cautioned that the expiration of Medicare telehealth waivers could have a knock-on impact for people on private health insurance.