How the One Big Beautiful Bill will impact telehealth coverage for HDHPs

By Caroline Savello | Originally posted on EBN

With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Congress has made permanent the safe harbor allowing high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) to cover telehealth and other remote services before the deductible is met.

It may seem like a small technical change in a bill with other large implications for healthcare in the country, but it creates real, practical opportunity, especially for those dealing with high-cost health issues, such as cancer care. As a result, leaders should be rethinking their benefit plans. 

With this safe harbor in place, employers now have the ability to change access, availability, and utilization of critical health services — especially for those with the highest financial and geographic barriers to care.