Telehealth Waivers Die, Physician Consolidation Data Doesn't Exist and 1,000 Home Hospital Beds Vanish Into Bureaucratic Limbo

Hey all,

Happy Yom Kipur! As I’m atoning the federal government is demonstrating that healthcare policy in America is a hostage to partisan politics. Telehealth access and hospital-at-home programs—two innovations that actually helped patients and providers—are now casualties of legislative inaction, with roughly 1,000 hospital beds disappearing and millions of patients losing virtual care access at precisely the moment neither can afford it. The bipartisan support exists, the evidence of effectiveness is clear, and yet here we are, tying essential healthcare services to short-term budget negotiations like it's a perfectly reasonable way to run a system. 

Enjoy the rundown!

Jacob Brody (Co-Founder & CEO, ZorroRX)

(Healthcare Dive) Telehealth Flexibilities Expire Amid Government Shutdown

Medicare telehealth waivers that expanded access during the pandemic expired Oct. 1 after Congress failed to pass a spending bill. The lapse creates uncertainty for providers and millions of patients, as reimbursement for virtual care is now restricted again. Telehealth advocates are pressing lawmakers to quickly restore the flexibilities and authorize retroactive payments. Full Article

(BenefitsPro) U.S. Lacks Way to Measure Physician Consolidation

The GAO found that while 47% of U.S. physicians were consolidated with hospital systems in 2024, there is no reliable public tool to track which physicians are independent versus consolidated. This lack of standardized data makes it difficult to assess the effects of acquisitions on health care costs, patient access, and care quality, leaving employers and policymakers with limited visibility. But hey, vertical integration is just another wonderful “gift” courtesy of the Affordable Care Act. Full Article

(STAT News) Home Hospital Programs in Crisis Amid Medicare Waiver Expiration: Hospital-at-home programs across the U.S. are shutting down as a Covid-era Medicare waiver allowing inpatient care in patients’ homes expires without congressional reauthorization, coinciding with the looming government shutdown. The lapse threatens roughly 1,000 beds nationwide—many in already overburdened hospitals—raising fears of worsened emergency department crowding and delays in care, with leaders warning that tying program survival to short-term budget deals stifles investment and innovation. A bipartisan bill to extend the waiver for five years is pending, but until action is taken, hospitals are forced to scale back or pause services, intensifying strain on patients and providers alike. Full Article