AMERICAN TELEMEDICINE ASSOCIATION AND ATA ACTION CONGRATULATE PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, OUTLINE URGENT TELEHEALTH POLICY PRIORITIES
WASHINGTON, D.C., JANUARY 20, 2025 – The American Telemedicine Association and ATA Action extend congratulations to President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance following today’s inauguration and outlined nine telehealth priorities for consideration.
“At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump made the visionary decision to expand Medicare telehealth coverage to alleviate growing pressure on the hospital system and overburdened clinicians and ensure that patients could access needed care during the dark days of the pandemic. Telehealth has since proven to be a vital tool for many areas of care delivery,” said Kyle Zebley, senior vice president, public policy, the ATA and executive director, ATA Action. “In his second term, President Trump can cement his legacy as the president to modernize the American healthcare system by permanently enabling omnichannel care delivery that leverages both in-person and virtual care. In doing so, he will expand access to needed care for millions of patients, boost a beleaguered provider population and create greater efficiencies and operational successes for struggling healthcare organizations.
“At the top of our list of priorities, we urge President Trump to immediately withdraw the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) draft Special Registration for Telemedicine and Limited State Telemedicine Registrations, released last week, which outlined a permanent framework for the remote prescribing of controlled substances. This proposal would create untenable restrictions and significant barriers to care,” Zebley added. “It is essential that the DEA, working with key stakeholders, take the time needed to establish a framework that ensures necessary access to care while safeguarding against diversion.”
In addition to withdrawing the DEA’s Special Registration for Telemedicine, ATA Action also asked President Trump and Vice President Vance to prioritize other telehealth policies, many of which were put in place by President Trump in 2020:
- Withdraw the proposed rule “Special Registration for Telemedicine and Limited State Telemedicine Registrations”
- Permanently allow for the remote prescribing of controlled substances
- Work with Congress to make the Medicare telehealth flexibilities permanent, including:
- Remove antiquated geographic and originating-site restrictions
- Ensure Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) continue to provide telehealth services and be reimbursed at a fair rate
- Expand the list of eligible Medicare providers
- Maintain audio-only coverage
- Repeal the telemental health in-person requirement
- Acute Hospital Care at Home Program
- Ensure affordable telehealth services for the commercially insured, to allow first dollar coverage of telehealth in High Deductible Health Plans – Health Savings Accounts (HDHPs-HSAs)
- Ensure affordable telehealth coverage for part-time contracted workers who don’t qualify for healthcare coverage
- Ensure all provider home addresses remain confidential
- Expand the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP)
- Reinstate virtual cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs
- Release updated regulatory guidance on Medicare telehealth flexibilities and the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program (AHCHP)
“The new Trump Administration is immediately on the clock, with the Medicare telehealth waivers expiring in just nine weeks. We look forward to President Trump’s continued leadership to ensure that telehealth remains available to millions of Americans who now rely on it for their care,” Zebley added. “We at ATA Action will remain available as a resource to the administration as well as members of Congress and are committed to working collaboratively to appropriately and swiftly address these important issues moving forward.”
Read the full letter to the incoming Administration on telehealth policy priorities.
About the ATA
As the only organization completely focused on advancing telehealth, the American Telemedicine Association is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and appropriate care when and where they need it, enabling the system to do more good for more people. The ATA represents a broad and inclusive member network of leading healthcare delivery systems, academic institutions, technology solution providers and payers, as well as partner organizations and alliances, working to advance industry adoption of telehealth, promote responsible policy, advocate for government and market normalization, and provide education and resources to help integrate virtual care into emerging value-based delivery models.
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).