News AOA offers patient access impact amid government funding concerns On Oct. 1, 2025, telehealth flexibilities established during the COVID-19 public health emergency, which broadly expanded access to telehealth services for Medicare patients, lapsed. Oct. 2, 2025ThursdayOctober 2025 issue AOA Staff Contact AOA Staff Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Topics fundingtelemedicine AOA President Robert Piccinini, DO, D.FACN, and AOA CEO Kathleen S. Creason, MBA, issued the following message on Oct. 1, 2025: The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) is disappointed that Congress could not come to an agreement to fund the government, and we are deeply concerned about the impact this will have on patients and physicians across the country, particularly the disruptions this will cause to patient care. On Oct. 1, 2025, telehealth flexibilities established during the COVID-19 public health emergency, which broadly expanded access to telehealth services for Medicare patients, lapsed. The expiration of these flexibilities means that telehealth services rendered to patients in their homes and outside of rural settings will no longer be paid for by Medicare. Telehealth is a vital tool that supports continuous, longitudinal, high-quality care and enables patients to see their physician when they may otherwise struggle to get to a physician office. While programs within agencies with mandatory spending will continue to operate during a lapse in government funding, functions and services that are subject to annual appropriations, also known as “discretionary spending,” will cease. The AOA will continue to advocate in Congress towards a swift resolution to fund the government and to achieve inclusion of critical healthcare extensions in any package, protecting access to healthcare programs. Related reading: Osteopathic innovation and storytelling highlighted in a new platform & new podcasts AOA urges evidence-based and routine vaccination for patients More in Patient Care Is it menopause or just life? Navigating midlife requires more than managing a busy schedule; it demands a deep understanding of the perimenopausal transition. Mapping the physical and cognitive shifts that women experience throughout perimenopause and menopause provides a clearer path toward the interventions that help patients reclaim their wellness. The unseen risks: Rising testosterone use among youth without medical indication As social media trends and unregulated clinics fuel a rise in off-label testosterone use among young populations, physicians face a growing public health crisis rooted in “physique culture.” Previous articleVirtual osteopathic CME now available via OMED On-Demand Next articleThe DO Book Club, Oct. 2025: ‘Mindful Beauty’ and ‘Doctor Goldman’s Guide to Effective Patient Communication’
Is it menopause or just life? Navigating midlife requires more than managing a busy schedule; it demands a deep understanding of the perimenopausal transition. Mapping the physical and cognitive shifts that women experience throughout perimenopause and menopause provides a clearer path toward the interventions that help patients reclaim their wellness.
The unseen risks: Rising testosterone use among youth without medical indication As social media trends and unregulated clinics fuel a rise in off-label testosterone use among young populations, physicians face a growing public health crisis rooted in “physique culture.”