High deductible health plans (HDHPs) have enjoyed a safe harbor, extended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), in which members could maintain health savings account (HSA) eligibility alongside first-dollar coverage for telehealth services. This safe harbor is set to expire on December 31, 2024. However, a pending bill in Congress could nullify that end date.
If the end date is not changed, members of HDHP plans with an HSA will be required to meet their deductibles before a $0 copay for telehealth will apply. Proponents of permanently implementing a $0 telehealth copay for HSA-enrolled members argue that implementation would further support patient care access.