ATA Comments on Presidential Election Results, Calls for Policymakers to Act Swiftly to Permanently Expand Access to Telehealth
WASHINGTON, D.C., NOVEMBER 9, 2020 – In response to the highly anticipated results of the 2020 presidential election, with America choosing former Vice President Joe Biden as its 46th president, the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) issued the following statement:
“Telehealth has been and will remain a bipartisan issue, and the ATA will continue to work with the federal government to improve policies to expand access to telehealth. During the past four years, the current administration has made many positive changes to Medicare policy to support telehealth. We are very encouraged that President-elect Biden has been on the record in support of telehealth and its continued expansion, and we look forward to working with his administration and with Congress in 2021,” said Ann Mond Johnson, CEO, the ATA. “As we move on from this election, now is the time for policymakers to act to ensure Americans continue to have access to virtual care when and where they need it, particularly to help solve for health disparities among rural and underserved communities.”
ATA Policy Principles
To effectively leverage and expand telehealth, digital health, and virtual care technologies, the ATA’s Policy Principles call for federal and state health policy to be technology, modality, and site-neutral:
- Ensure Patient Choice, Access, and Satisfaction
- Enhance Provider Autonomy
- Expand Reimbursement to Incentivize 21st Century Virtual Care
- Enable Healthcare Delivery Across State Lines
- Ensure Access to Non-Physician Providers
- Expand Access for Underserved and At-risk Populations
- Support Seniors and Expand “Aging in Place”
- Protect Patient Privacy and Mitigate Cybersecurity Risks
- Ensure Program Integrity
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 health care 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. Visit the ATA COVID-19 Resource Center. @americantelemed #telehealthishealth #ATApolicy
