Federal Activity
This chart tracks critical Federal telehealth legislation and outlines ATA’s Federal priorities for the end of the 116th Congress.
ATA's Response to RFI on Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery
ATA Response to RFI Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery
The ATA responds to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Request for Information (RFI) on Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery.
ATA's Response to RFI on Leveraging Novel Technologies for Chronic Disease Management for Aging Underserved Populations
ATA Response to HHS RFI
The ATA responds to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Request for Information (RFI) on Leveraging Novel Technologies for Chronic Disease Management for Aging Underserved Populations.
ATA Letter to President-Elect Biden and the Transition Team
ATA Letter to President-Elect
The ATA wrote to President-Election Biden and his transition team to share the ATA’s core policy principles and to offer the ATA as a resource as they begin to consider telehealth policies.
Letter to U.S. Congressional Leaders on Extending Telehealth Flexibilities
Letter to Congress
The ATA helped to lead a letter urging leaders of Congress to include telehealth in the end of the year package and strongly support, in absence of permanent reform, an extension of the temporary telehealth flexibilities until the end of 2021.
ATA's Comments on the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technologies Proposed Rule
ATA'S MCIT COMMENTS
In a November 2 letter American Telemedicine Association (ATA) CEO Ann Mond Johnson submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on how the agency can use its regulatory authority to expand access to and directly cover digital health technologies that are not traditionally covered by Medicare.
ATA's Comments on the 2021 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
ATA's 2021 PFS Comments
In a September 24 letter American Telemedicine Association (ATA) CEO Ann Mond Johnson submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the CY 2021 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule strongly supporting increased access to telehealth services in the Medicare program, including for underserved populations.
The ATA published a chart outlining the telehealth flexibilities during COVID-19 and the ATA’s recommendations for permanent telehealth policy.
Letter of Endorsement for HR 7663
Protecting Access to Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act of 2020
The ATA helped lead a letter thanking congressional House Telehealth Caucus members for their continued leadership. The letter, dated August 3, 2020, noted the broad telehealth industry support for recently introduced legislation, the Protecting Access to Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act of 2020 (HR 7663).
ATA Letter to Congress on Coronavirus IV Legislation
COVID-19 Supplemental Appropriation
ATA submitted recommendations to Congress on measures to facilitate the use of telehealth and expand the use of virtual care by health care providers during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
COVID-19: Flexibilities and Guidance Needed to Expand Telehealth
COVID-19: ATA Recommendations to HHS & CMS
As follow up to the ATA’s March 13 recommendations, the ATA provided HHS and CMS with recommendations on additional actions that would further support health care providers seeking to provide telehealth services in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
ATA submitted recommendations to Congress on measures to facilitate the use of telehealth and expand the use of virtual care by health care providers during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
COVID-19: Federal Waivers, Flexibilities, and Guidance Needed to Expand Telehealth
ATA Recommendations to the Administration on the COVID-19 Response
ATA submitted recommendations to the Administration on actions that can immediately be taken to facilitate the use of telehealth and expand the use of virtual care by health care providers during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Stakeholder Letter to Congress on Strengthening Telehealth for COVID-19
H.R.6201 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act
ATA, along with a number of health care stakeholders, submitted a follow up letter urging Congress to address barriers that were built into the telehealth waiver provision of the Coronavirus Supplemental Appropriation that are preventing health care providers from fully leveraging and scaling critical telehealth services needed to combat COVID-19.
ATA Letter to HHS and CMS on HR 6074 & Waiver Authority for Medicare Part B Telehealth Services
COVID-19 Supplemental Appropriation
ATA CEO Ann Mond Johnson submitted a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services urging them to leverage the telehealth waiver authority provided under H.R.6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020. This waiver removes telehealth geographic site restrictions for Medicare beneficiaries, providing critical access to care for patients affected by COVID-19.
Telehealth Stakeholder Letter on COVID-19 Supplemental Appropriation
H.R.6074 - Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020
ATA, along with a number of health care stakeholders, submitted a letter urging Congress to expand access to telehealth services in the COVID-19 supplemental appropriation and provide the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) with the authority to waive existing Medicare restrictions on telehealth visits during a public health emergency.
The ATA shared feedback with leaders in Congress as work begins on a framework for a “Cures 2.0” legislative package that would build and expand on reforms included in the 21st Century Cures Act, passed in December 2016.
ATA, along with a number of healthcare stakeholders, submitted a letter with comments on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) implementation of a Special Registration provision for telemedicine under the Ryan Haight Act.
ATA Response to HHS RFI: Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement
Public Law 114-145
ATA commends the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation for seeking input on how to ensure legitimate access to controlled substances while also preventing diversion and abuse. This issue is very important to our members and we appreciate being able to provide feedback and recommendations.
The ATA submitted recommendations to Congress for comprehensive telehealth reform and urged Congressional leaders to address barriers to telehealth in Medicare.
In response to the mandate from H.R. 6, the ATA convened a special member workgroup within its Telebehavioral Health Special Interest Group. The workgroup developed five recommendations for how a special registration process could be structured to enable the safe prescribing of certain controlled substances via telehealth.
The ATA supports legislative efforts to expand access to telehealth services, which we believe will improve patient outcomes, patients and provider satisfaction, and lower costs to the healthcare system. The RUSH Act, introduced in the 115th Congress, represents one such effort by expanding access to emergency telehealth for Medicare patients in nursing homes with the goal of reducing unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations.