Medicare Telehealth Gets Another Temporary Lifeline —Will Congress Make It Permanent
Laser Surgery Offers Hope for Patients Living With Epilepsy And Brain Cancer
pg. 9
Oncology Research pg.3
Mental Health pg.5
Healthy Heart pg.6
The Framework pg.8
Financial Forecast pg.12
By Joelle M. Wilson, J.D. Polsinelli, PC
President Trump recently signed a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown, which included a critical six-month extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities through September 30, 2025. This six-month extension provides a temporary reprieve from the looming expiration of telehealth waivers that have been in place since the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). While this is a positive development, it underscores the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Medicare’s long-term telehealth policy—an issue that Congress must address with a more permanent solution. What the Extension Means for Providers Medicare providers will continue to operate under the existing telehealth flexibilities for an additional six months. This means:
• No Geographic or Site Restrictions – Medicare beneficiaries can receive telehealth services regardless of their location, including from their homes.
• Expanded Practitioner Eligibility – A broader range of healthcare providers, including physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists, can continue furnishing telehealth services.
• Coverage for Audio-Only Services – Medicare will maintain reimbursement for certain audio-only visits, which have been critical for reaching patients without reliable broadband access.
• Hospital and Facility - Based
Telehealth – Flexibilities allowing hospitals and health systems to use telehealth for certain hospital-at-home and outpatient services remain in place.
• FQHCs and RHCs ParticipationFederally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics can continue to offer telehealth services, ensuring access in underserved areas.
• Mental Health Flexibilities - The in-person evaluation requirement for mental health services delivered via telehealth has been deferred, allowing patients to continue receiving mental health care via telehealth.
For hospitals, health systems and provider groups that have invested heavily in telehealth infrastructure, this extension offers short-term stability. However, the uncertainty beyond September 2025 remains a pressing concern.
Industry Perspective on the Need for Regulatory Certainty
Since the expanded use of telehealth under Medicare, healthcare providers, hospitals and technology developers have adapted their care delivery models and made significant
investments in telehealth infrastructure. Many industry stakeholders have highlighted the following considerations as Congress continues evaluating the long-term future of Medicare telehealth policy:
• Regulatory Stability for Long-Term Decision-Making - Healthcare organizations make strategic decisions — ranging from workforce planning to technology investments—based on long-term regulatory and reimbursement expectations. Without a definitive, long-term Medicare telehealth policy, providers must plan within an uncertain framework, creating challenges in making sustainable investments.
• Access to Care for Underserved and Rural Populations - Telehealth has played a key role in expanding access to care, particularly for rural and underserved populations who may face geographic, transportation or mobility barriers. Healthcare providers serving these communities have emphasized the importance of telehealth in maintaining access to
Baylor Students Learn Next Step
By Staff
AnMental Health Social Media May Heighten Depression Severity in Youth
emotional overattachment to social media may be associated with increased severity of mental health symptoms among young people being treated for depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, according to researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, found that 40% of depressed and suicidal youth reported problematic social media use, defined as being upset or having feelings of discontent or disappointment when not using social media. These youth also reported higher rates of screen time and expressed more and higher depressive symptoms, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, along
with poorer overall well-being.
“There has long been speculation that excessive social media use among young people may be a factor in increased rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, but the relationship is not fully understood,” said study leader Betsy Kennard, Psy.D., Distinguished Teaching Professor of Psychiatry and member of the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute at UT Southwestern.
“While there have been multiple studies investigating social media use and mental health symptoms, few focused on clinical populations. Our findings are instructive because they characterize the prevalence of problematic social media use in children and adolescents who are receiving care for depression, suicidal ideation, and/ or suicidal behaviors, which gives us insight into how they might intersect.”
Dr. Kennard and her colleagues reviewed data from a social media questionnaire completed by 489 patients in the Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Registry, comprising patients ages 8 to 20 who are receiving care for depression, suicidal ideation, and/or suicidal behaviors at 12 academic medical centers across the state including UT Southwestern and Children’s Health. Prevalence of problematic social media use was identified, and indicators of mental and physical health were compared in
those with or without problematic use.
“The appropriate amount of social media activity isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ issue, so what is fine for one individual may not be OK for someone else,” Dr. Kennard said. “But what we often see is that the characteristics of problematic use mirror those of addiction, with continued use even when wanting to stop, cravings, interference with daily tasks and activities, deceptive use, interpersonal disruptions, and more.
Baylor Students Learn Next Step in Medical Training At 2025 Match Day
By Staff
Fourth-year medical students at Baylor College of Medicine gathered on the school’s lawn with family, friends and educational leaders on a beautiful, blue-sky Texas spring day to learn where they will spend the next three to seven years for their residency training.
Match Day, held today at U.S. medical schools, culminates the annual National Resident Match Program that pairs fourth-year medical students with residency programs throughout the nation. At Baylor, 194 students participated in the match, and 70 of them – 36 percent – will begin their residencies in the primary care fields of family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, medicine/pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology or emergency
you,” he said, suggesting that students show swag but not arrogance as they represent Baylor College of Medicine going forward in their training and careers.
Dr. Jennifer Christner, senior dean of the School of Medicine and School of Health Professions, acknowledged Baylor’s affiliate institutions where students do clinical rotations during medical school. “You trained in the best place in the entire country, and our affiliates are so much a part of that.”
Class of 2025 President Adel Hassan addressed his classmates before the match envelops were revealed, expressing his pride in their training so far.
“I am incredibly proud to stand here with you today. You have been an amazing class, and it’s been an honor
medicine. Forty-seven students will continue their training in residencies at Baylor College of Medicine, and 83 matched at residency programs in Texas.
During a brief program leading up to opening of the envelopes containing students’ matches, Baylor President, CEO and Executive Dean Dr. Paul Klotman reminded this class, as he does each class, that it’s called Match Day, not selection day.
“If you didn’t match with your first choice, that means they didn’t particularly want you. But the one where you did match, they love you and so that is the perfect place for you,” Klotman said. “You will do better at an institution that really wants
to watch your achievements,” Hassan said. “Each and every one of you is going to be an amazing doctor with your own unique strengths. Wherever your envelope takes you, there will be patients who have spent countless hours driving to the hospital, sitting in the waiting room, lying awake in their hospital beds, and all that time, they were hoping for one thing: to get the best doctor possible. And that doctor will be you.”
Dr. Lee Poythress, associate dean of student affairs, called students to the large board where their envelopes were posted, telling their parents and family in attendance that these students represent the finest in the country.
Financial Forecast The Buckets of Money Strategy
AsBy Grace S. Yung, CFP Midtown Financial Group, LLC
individuals approach retirement, financial planning becomes increasingly important to manage assets effectively. One approach to organizing retirement savings is the Buckets of Money Strategy. This strategy helps individuals allocate investments based on short-, intermediate-, and long-term needs, providing liquidity for immediate expenses, stability for mid-term needs, and growth potential for the future.
Understanding the Buckets of Money Strategy
The Buckets of Money Strategy divides retirement savings into three distinct categories. The first is the short-term bucket, which covers
The goal of this bucket is to generate a reasonable return while limiting exposure to excessive volatility. It can be particularly useful for medium-term expenses such as home renovations or unexpected medical costs.
The long-term bucket is allocated for investments with a time horizon of seven years or more. This portion of the portfolio is designed for long-term growth and typically consists of equities, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and other growth-oriented investments. Since this bucket has the longest time frame, it can better withstand short-term market fluctuations while benefiting from the potential for compounding and capital appreciation. The objective of this allocation is to keep pace with inflation and support financial needs throughout later years of retirement.
Considerations
for the Buckets Strategy
immediate expenses and serves as a cash reserve. This bucket consists of highly liquid, low-risk assets such as savings accounts, money market accounts, or short-term Treasury bills. The purpose of this allocation is to ensure that essential expenses such as mortgage payments, medical costs, or planned travel can be covered without the need to sell investments during market downturns.
The intermediate-term bucket is designed for financial needs that arise within three to seven years. This portion of the strategy focuses on preserving capital while providing some income and moderate growth. Investments in this category may include high-quality bonds, conservative balanced funds, or laddered fixed-income securities.
One of the key benefits of this approach is that it provides a framework for managing market volatility. The short-term bucket ensures that funds are available for immediate expenses, reducing the need to sell investments during a downturn, while the long-term bucket allows for continued market participation with a focus on growth. The intermediate-term bucket plays an essential role in bridging the gap between short-term cash needs and long-term investments, helping to manage withdrawals strategically and reduce the risk of prematurely depleting retirement savings. By
