Walkinshaw, Carter Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Shape the Future of Medicare Telehealth With Better Data

Legislation would require annual reporting and a public data dashboard without adding paperwork for physicians and practitioners

Washington, D.C., September 14, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressmen James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) and Buddy Carter (GA-01) introduced bipartisan legislation to replace fragmented federal reporting with reliable annual data showing who Medicare telehealth is reaching, where access barriers remain, how patients are faring, and where taxpayer dollars may be at risk.

The Telehealth Reporting and Transparency Act of 2026 would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to report annually on telehealth utilization, patient access, available health outcomes, provider participation, and program integrity.

“Telehealth can be a lifeline when getting to a doctor is difficult, especially for seniors, people with disabilities, and patients in rural communities. It also gives patients greater flexibility to manage chronic conditions, access behavioral health services, and receive routine follow-up care,” said Congressman Walkinshaw. “Congress should not shape the future of telehealth in the dark. I’m proud to work alongside Congressman Buddy Carter on this bipartisan effort to show what is working, where access gaps remain, and where taxpayer dollars may be at risk, without adding another layer of paperwork for physicians and other practitioners.”

“Telehealth has transformed the way millions of seniors access care, especially in rural communities where patients may live hours from the nearest provider,” said Congressman Carter. “As Medicare continues to embrace telehealth, Congress needs reliable data to ensure these services are reaching the patients who need them while protecting taxpayer dollars from fraud, waste, and abuse. This bipartisan legislation will give policymakers and the public greater transparency without placing new burdens on the physicians and practitioners caring for our seniors.”

The annual report would include:

  • National and state-level telehealth utilization, including rural and urban trends;
  • Demographic and geographic differences in utilization, including potential broadband barriers;
  • Available patient outcomes, provider participation, and barriers to delivering telehealth services;
  • Claims patterns that may indicate improper billing and actions CMS is taking to combat fraud, waste, and abuse.

CMS would be required to rely exclusively on information it already collects and could not impose new reporting or administrative requirements on physicians and practitioners. The agency would also create a public dashboard displaying aggregated telehealth data in a searchable and downloadable format.

The legislation does not expand or restrict Medicare telehealth coverage, change payment policies, or alter patient eligibility. It also directs the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the reporting framework and recommend improvements.

The bill text is available here.

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