Ways that Telehealth Billing Just Got Simpler for Medical Practices Oct 3
Big news for medical practices navigating the complexities of telehealth billing: the One Big Beautiful Bill Act just opened the door to significantly easier billing processes.
Here's what changed:
Telehealth services can now have permanent first-dollar coverage for certain HSA-eligible patients—no deductible required.
The safe harbor is retroactive to 2025 plan years.
High-deductible health plans can offer this benefit without jeopardizing HSA eligibility.
What this could mean for your medical practice:
Potentially simplified billing workflows → Less time verifying deductibles for eligible telehealth visits.
Improved payment cycles → Faster reimbursement when plans adopt first-dollar coverage.
Reduced patient collection friction → Fewer out-of-pocket costs may mean smoother care delivery.
More predictable revenue streams → Better financial planning for telehealth services.
The bottom line: This legislation creates new opportunities to streamline telehealth billing—but implementation varies by plan. Medical practices that stay informed about which plans have adopted these provisions can reduce billing complications and focus more energy on patient care and practice growth.
Important: While the OBBBA makes first-dollar telehealth coverage permanent for HSA-eligible high-deductible health plans, individual employers and insurers must choose to adopt these provisions. Coverage details still vary by plan. We recommend verifying each patient's specific plan benefits to ensure accurate billing and avoid claim denials. Not all health plans are HSA-eligible HDHPs, and adoption of these telehealth provisions is optional for plan sponsors.
