ATA ACTION LAUNCHES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE TO MAKE ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH PERMANENT AND SECURE REIMBURSEMENT FOR VIRTUAL CARE
WASHINGTON, DC, SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 –ATA Action, the American Telemedicine Association’s affiliated trade association focused on advocacy, today announced the creation of the bipartisan ATA Action Political Action Committee (ATA Action PAC) to influence legislation that supports innovation and removes barriers to digital health, ensuring everyone can benefit from modern healthcare solutions.
“The ATA Action PAC will create even more momentum for our efforts to advocate for policies that enhance the accessibility and quality of virtual care services, which aligns with our commitment to advancing telehealth,” said Kyle Zebley, Senior Vice President, Public Policy, the ATA and Executive Director, ATA Action. “Through the ATA Action PAC, we will be able to support candidates whose work has a positive impact on virtual care policy across the United States.”
The ATA Action PAC will only make contributions to incumbent federal candidates or political committees of incumbent members of Congress that are running for election to the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate. The PAC will not make contributions to presidential candidates or candidates seeking state or local offices. The ATA Action PAC will strictly adhere to the rules and regulations set forth by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
“There has never been a more important time in our history for a political action committee that represents the needs of clinicians and everyday Americans, especially those in underserved communities with limited access to healthcare services,” added Zebley. “ATA Action has urgently and successfully been fighting for expanded access to virtual care for years – but there is still much work to be done to ensure that appropriate telehealth policies are implemented without arbitrary and unnecessary barriers to care.
“As the clock winds down, it’s clear that this Telehealth Super Bowl will go into overtime in January, with access to clinically appropriate care for millions of beneficiaries set to vanish in just 112 days. Medicare telehealth flexibilities, first-dollar coverage of telehealth for HDHP-HSAs, and the ability of providers to prescribe controlled substances remotely without prior in-person requirements—policies that have been in place for half a decade—are all set to expire on December 31, 2024. This PAC will be a crucial resource in our efforts to advocate for our members, protect patient access, and support the broader healthcare community as we work to extend these critical telehealth policies, ensuring we don’t revert to the outdated and restrictive barriers of the past.”
The ATA Action PAC was launched on September 10 at a reception at the private residence of the ATA CEO and ATA Action Board Member, Ann Mond Johnson, in Washington, DC.
About ATA Action
ATA Action recognizes that telehealth and virtual care have the potential to transform the healthcare delivery system by improving patient outcomes, enhancing the safety and effectiveness of care, addressing health disparities, and reducing costs. ATA Action is a registered 501c6 entity and an affiliated trade organization of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA). The ATA Action PAC is a key initiative of ATA Action, the advocacy arm of the American Telemedicine Association. The PAC provides a structured avenue for telehealth allies to participate in the political process, supporting candidates whose work will have a positive impact on virtual care policy across the United States.
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