Patients go without needed treatment after government shutdown disrupts a telehealth program
October 30, 2025
Bill Swick, who has a rare degenerative brain disease, has lost access to virtual speech therapy due to the federal government shutdown. The shutdown, now in its fifth week, halted funding for Medicare’s telehealth program, leaving many patients without vital services. Swick and his wife, Martha, have been forced to rely on old strategies to manage his condition. The lapse in funding affects millions of Medicare beneficiaries. Medical providers are now deciding whether to continue offering services without the guarantee of reimbursement when the government reopens. The congressional stalemate leaves many patients with fewer options for care.