Medicare's Next Move Could Redefine AI In Telehealth

AI and Telehealth are moving fast, but Medicare policy changes could make or break how they work together.

A recent Medicare Telehealth Trends Report shows that telehealth use among Medicare FFS beneficiaries dropped from about 48% in 2020 to around 25% today. Even so, that’s still millions of people (roughly 6.75 million Medicare users got telehealth care in 2024 alone).

At the same time, Medicare rules are changing.

Some pandemic-era flexibilities, like home-based telehealth, may be phased out starting late 2025. That could mean a return to stricter rules for rural office visits unless Congress acts.

Now add AI to the mix.

Imagine Telehealth visits where a clinician starts with pre-analyzed vitals, risk scores, and symptom histories. Or AI helping decide which patients need telehealth versus in-person care. These tools could become essential.

One exciting trend: AI-driven Telehealth is already being tested to automate documentation. In some pilots, AI drafts cut clinician note-taking by 30–50%, freeing up time for patients.

But policy matters.

If Medicare limits home-based telehealth reimbursement, many AI features could become less viable commercially.

At Vironix Health, we plan for both tech and policy. Our roadmap focuses on AI + Telehealth integrations that can adapt if reimbursement rules tighten.

Which AI-powered telehealth feature should Medicare support first: automated documentation, predictive triage, or risk scoring?

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