Healthcare (Telehealth · Seniors)

The WELL Seniors Act of 2025 expands Medicare's annual wellness visit program to better address seniors' health and social needs. It requires screenings for fall risk and assessments of food security, housing, transportation, and social support, with providers receiving a 10% payment incentive for including at least two additional elements beyond standard care. The bill also allows these visits to be provided via telehealth and adds physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pharmacists as eligible providers starting in 2026. Additionally, it mandates a national education campaign and research study to improve uptake, particularly for low-income and rural seniors.

This bill makes permanent Medicare telehealth services that allow patients to receive care from home, removing temporary pandemic-era restrictions. It eliminates geographic limitations and expands where telehealth can originate, so beneficiaries in rural or remote areas can consistently access virtual care without needing to travel. The key change modifies Medicare rules to remove expiration dates tied to public health emergencies, ensuring home-based telehealth remains covered indefinitely. This directly affects Medicare beneficiaries, particularly seniors and people with mobility challenges in underserved communities. The policy change simplifies access to routine care without requiring in-person visits.