Impact of Government Shutdown Leaves Medicare Patients Without Telehealth Access

Thu Oct 30 2025 19:19:09 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A government shutdown halts funding for Medicare telehealth services, forcing patients like Bill Swick, who suffers from a degenerative brain disease, to revert to less effective in-person therapies.

As Congress remains unable to resolve budget negotiations, Medicare patients are experiencing significant disruptions in telehealth services, affecting continuity of care for those with serious health conditions. Patients are left to navigate challenges, often resorting to outdated methods while waiting for reinstated access to vital medical consultations from home.

MINOOKA, Ill. — Bill Swick faces challenges due to a degenerative brain disease, which impacts his mobility and speech. Previously, he relied on virtual therapy sessions from home instead of enduring a long commute to downtown Chicago. However, due to the recent federal government shutdown that has entered its fifth week, funding for the Medicare telehealth program has ceased, forcing him and other patients to delay their therapy sessions.

“It’s frustrating because we want to continue with his journey, with his progress,” said Martha Swick, Bill's wife and caretaker. This setback means they must resort to outdated methods to cope with his communication challenges rather than engaging new therapies.

Millions of patients on Medicare's fee-for-service plans, similarly relying on telehealth options initially extended during the pandemic for appointments, now face uncertainty as the federal shutdown hampers access. Experts suggest that skipping even a few sessions could jeopardize progress, particularly for individuals with degenerative conditions.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth options were severely limited, accessible mainly in rural areas and specific healthcare facilities. The expansion in 2020 allowed broader access from home, yet Congress's inability to agree on a budget has expired these waivers, leaving patients in a lurch.

As providers assess whether to continue virtual care amid financial ambiguity, many have reluctantly halted services. Patients such as Susan Collins, who found telehealth a lifeline for her late husband, now find themselves grappling with the complexities of physical visits to distant healthcare facilities.

Continuity of care, vital for patients with chronic and degenerative conditions, is now highly compromised, leaving both patients and providers maneuvering through an uncertain landscape until normal funding resumes.