The Medicare program will continue during the current government shutdown, but other activities, such as policy and rulemaking, may not continue, according to a contingency plan posted to the Centers

Crucial health programs will continue to operate during the federal government shutdown, but many services will halt or be significantly less efficient as staffers are furloughed, based on

"She was so anxious, she wouldn’t come into the office," psychiatrist Tichianaa Armah said of a telehealth patient.

A government shutdown triggers the furlough of non-essential employees. Many agencies, departments and services will be interrupted until the government reopens. Medicare is one of the many services affected by a government shutdown.

Social Security and Medicare payments continue during a shutdown, but delays and service disruptions are still likely. Read on to learn more.

Key Takeaways Medicare telehealth flexibilities put in place as a result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) expired on September 30, 2025, reverting telehealth policy to pre-pandemic coverage criteria.

It's got bipartisan support—and millions of Americans need it. But Congress keeps failing to lock in telehealth funding.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — With Congress missing the midnight deadline to pass a new spending bill, the federal government shut down at 12:01 a.m. today. Lawmakers have not indicated when a deal might be reached and key provisions for ground ambulance providers expired along with the funding resolution.