The October 14 Telehealth Working Group meeting focused on the ongoing federal government shutdown and the expiration of the Medicare telehealth waivers tied to government funding. CTeL staff explained that the continuing resolution expired October 1, halting reimbursement for many telehealth services and prompting CMS to temporarily hold Medicare telehealth claims for 10 business days pending congressional action. Members discussed the potential duration of the shutdown, possible impacts on CMS policymaking—including delays to the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule final rule—and the uncertainty of back payments if waivers are later reinstated. CTeL highlighted available resources on its Help Hub page for members navigating these issues. The group also reviewed the new $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” outlining how funds will be distributed to states and when vendors may expect RFP opportunities in 2026 once allocations are finalized.