Medicare telehealth pause threatens care for Humboldt County patients
As the federal government shutdown enters its sixth week, Medicare has stopped paying for telehealth and in home hospital care programs, leaving many local patients facing out of pocket charges or missed appointments. Providers in Humboldt County are improvising to keep care available, but doctors warn delays in treatment could worsen outcomes for elderly and disabled residents.
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Medicare beneficiaries in Humboldt County who rely on virtual visits to see their doctors are confronting a sudden cut to coverage as the government shutdown stretches into its sixth week. Since Oct. 1 Medicare has stopped paying for telehealth services and in home hospital care programs, forcing some patients to pay out of pocket for virtual visits or forgo appointments entirely even though in person appointments remain available.
Telehealth had become a significant part of outpatient care at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka. Dr. John Aryanpur, a neurosurgeon at St. Joseph and Chief Medical Officer for NorCal Providence Medical Group and Clinical Network, estimated telehealth visits accounted for “between 10 and 18 percent” of outpatient visits before the government shut down on Oct. 1. He said the interruption has had a tangible effect on patients and staff. “These actions, unfortunately, have impacted our patients in Humboldt and all across northern California,” Dr. Aryanpur said. “We’ve had a number of folks who have canceled appointments or deferred care that we feel is time sensitive. Many of our clinicians are feeling very stressed because they have folks who they need to provide care to who are not coming in or who are deciding to defer care because of these actions.”
The lapse stems from the expiration on Sept. 30 of pandemic era telehealth waivers that expanded access for Medicare beneficiaries. Extending those waivers through 2030 would require congressional action via the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act. Lawmakers have taken some steps toward a spending deal, but the temporary protections for telehealth have not been restored, leaving providers and patients in limbo.
California had one of the highest telehealth usage rates among Medicare beneficiaries in the first half of 2025, a factor that magnifies the local impact. In rural and underserved areas like Humboldt County telehealth is more than a convenience, it is a lifeline for elderly and disabled residents who have difficulty traveling to clinics in town. Providers worry that deferred care for urgent conditions or chronic disease management will lead to worse outcomes.
Local clinics are adapting to reduce disruption. Open Door Community Health Centers are using the rural site exemption by asking patients to come into the clinic to access remote providers from inside the clinic “four walls”. Providence officials say the system will continue to provide telehealth services as needed and will “sort it out later” with reimbursement.
For now patients should check with their regular clinics about options and any potential costs before scheduling virtual visits. Providers say they are trying to preserve access while health systems and Congress sort out longer term coverage. The immediate concern in Humboldt County is whether improvisations will be enough to prevent delayed care from becoming a lasting harm for vulnerable residents.
