The Mississippi Telehealth Association advocates for important policy and legislation on the state and national levels. All efforts are designed to support adoption and support of appropriate telehealth and telemedicine utilization in the state.
State Policies and Legislation
To learn more about state legislation, please watch our 2026 legislative update webinar.
View the Mississippi Telehealth 2026 Legislative Session Final Report
Federal Policies and Legislation
Congress just approved a full-year FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations package that includes critical rural health extenders, most notably a two-year extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2027. The bill passed both the House and Senate and now heads to the President’s desk, ending a brief partial government shutdown and providing certainty for rural providers and patients who rely on telehealth services.
The telehealth extension preserves key Medicare flexibilities that allow rural and underserved communities to continue accessing care remotely, supporting continuity of care, expanded access to specialists, and improved care coordination. In addition to the extender, the legislation increases funding for the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth and includes targeted investments to support telehealth infrastructure and coordination, particularly for rural veterans and small hospitals.
Overall, the package reinforces Congress’s continued recognition of telehealth as an essential tool in rural health delivery, ensuring stability for providers while Congress considers longer-term policy solutions.