WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), a pharmacist, today joined Rep. James R. Walkinshaw (D-VA) in introducing the bipartisan Telehealth Reporting and Transparency Act of 2026, legislation to provide Congress and the public with reliable annual data on how Medicare beneficiaries are using telehealth, where access gaps remain, and how taxpayer dollars are being protected from fraud, waste, and abuse.
“Telehealth has transformed the way millions of seniors access care, especially in rural communities where patients may live hours from the nearest provider,” said Rep. 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.”
“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 Rep. 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.”
The Telehealth Reporting and Transparency Act of 2026 would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to issue an annual report examining Medicare telehealth utilization, patient access, available health outcomes, provider participation, and program integrity.
The legislation requires CMS to rely exclusively on information it already collects and prohibits the agency from imposing new reporting or administrative requirements on physicians and practitioners. CMS would also establish a public, searchable dashboard displaying aggregated Medicare telehealth data. It 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 potential improvements.
The bill text is available here.
