Telehealth: What’s at stake?

The Association’s advocacy arm, ATA Action, again wrote to lawmakers imploring them to include an extension on some telehealth flexibilities, and to reinstate some allowances, as part of an upcoming government funding package.

“We strongly urge Congress to reinstate these essential provisions and extend the Medicare telehealth flexibilities for as long as possible, as soon as possible,” said ATA Senior Vice President for Public Policy Kyle Zebley. He also is executive director of ATA Action.

“Without action, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and health care costs will rise, with rural and underserved populations hit hardest, undermining the progress we’ve made to expand access to care through telehealth,” he said in a statement. “These critical telehealth flexibilities, initially established by President Trump with strong bipartisan support, have been crucial, ensuring patients across the country could continue receiving high-quality care when and where they need it.”

ATA Action outlined the following provisions in its letter to Congressional Appropriations Committee Co-Chair Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Ranking Members Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington).

ATA Action also has launched a new advocacy tool that allows clinicians, researchers, patients and other telehealth stakeholders to send customized letters to representatives and senators.

This slideshow presents the telehealth provisions that ATA Action is requesting from Congress. All data come from ATA Action.