Get the latest from ATA and stay ahead of what’s next. Join the March Member Town Hall for strategic updates from leadership, the latest policy wins, progress on key initiatives like AI Policy Principles and ATA CODE, and an early look at what’s coming for ATA NEXUS—plus a live Q&A to get your questions answered. Register Here »
Peterson Health Technology Institute (PHTI)
New findings from the Peterson Health Technology Institute (PHTI) show that virtual gastrointestinal (GI) solutions improve symptoms, enhance quality of life for patients with IBS, and improve outcomes for those with IBD when gastroenterologist support is included. These tools also reduce healthcare costs by lowering avoidable hospitalizations and other high-cost services—delivering better symptom control, fewer flare-ups, and meaningful savings.
Mass General Brigham Health Plan has launched an interactive wellness hub that delivers personalized digital tools, coaching, and resources to support nutrition, fitness, mental health, and chronic condition management. The platform aims to improve member engagement and wellbeing while helping employers reduce healthcare costs and boost productivity.
Amazon has launched a health AI assistant on its website and app, expanding free virtual care access to millions of U.S. consumers and positioning itself early in the emerging AI-driven healthcare race. The tool offers 24/7 health guidance and can help connect users to appropriate care, signaling Amazon’s push to integrate AI directly into everyday healthcare experiences.
Physician adoption of AI has surged, with 81% now using AI in practice—more than double 2023 levels—primarily for documentation, research summaries, and workflow efficiency. While confidence in AI’s clinical value is rising, physicians remain cautious about risks like privacy, liability, and potential skill erosion.
NEXUS 2026goes beyond theory, offering role-relevant sessions, interactive workshops, and peer exchanges built for real-world application. Tailored for every digital health leader, the program delivers practical strategies you can put into action immediately. Hear candid lessons from health system and digital care leaders on building, scaling, and adapting programs, so you can take what works back to your organization.
SESSION SPOTLIGHTS
Beyond Pilots: Financial Models That Sustain Virtual Care at Scale
Building Direct-to-Consumer Virtual Care Within Health Systems
Virtual Behavioral Health at Scale: What the Data Shows — and What AI Makes Possible Next
Beyond One Hospital: Multi-Site Virtual Care at Scale
Crossing State Lines: Licensure Progress, Inpatient Realities, and What Comes Next
3rd Annual Rural Health Virtual Summit Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | 11:00 AM ET | Hosted by TytoCare
Rural health leaders can’t wait for more clinicians, bigger budgets, or new facilities, they’re solving access challenges now with smarter care models and virtual-first strategies. Join the 3rd Annual Rural Health Virtual Summit, a three-hour virtual event featuring frontline innovators sharing practical ways to expand rural access, address workforce shortages, and deliver clinical-grade care beyond traditional walls, without burning out teams. Register Here »
FEDERAL POLICY UPDATES
ATA Action Engages Senate Staff on Direct-to-Consumer Telehealth
ATA Action met with staff from Senator Welch's office to discuss direct-to-consumer telehealth platforms, address common misconceptions about how DTC models operate, and examine whether existing regulations may be creating unnecessary barriers for reputable companies
White House Outlines Federal AI Governance Framework
Last week, the White House released its National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence, calling on Congress to establish a single national AI standard and preempt state laws that impose "undue burdens" on AI development. For healthcare and telehealth, the key provisions:
Regulatory consistency — A uniform national standard for AI-enabled care tools (triage, clinical decision support, patient-facing chatbots) would reduce compliance complexity for multi-state providers.
Existing regulators retain oversight — FDA, HHS, CMS, OCR, and FTC remain the primary bodies governing AI in health and consumer contexts — no new agency.
Innovation support — Regulatory sandboxes and expanded federal dataset access aim to accelerate safe deployment of AI in virtual care and diagnostics.
Fraud protections — Targeted measures against AI-enabled impersonation scams, directly relevant to telehealth identity verification.
the safe, ethical, and scalable deployment of AI in healthcare that empowers providers, protects patients, and enables the full potential of AI to support a digital-first future of care.
CMS Opens Applications for MAHA ELEVATE Model
CMS released its Notice of Funding Opportunity on March 13 for MAHA ELEVATE (Make America Healthy Again: Enhancing Lifestyle and Evaluating Value-based Approaches Through Evidence), a value-based care model offering $100 million across 30 awards split into 2026 and 2027 cohorts. Three awards are reserved for programs addressing dementia and cognitive decline.
Competitive applicants must demonstrate evidence-based interventions, proven implementation history, cost savings, and strong participant recruitment capabilities. CMS is encouraging partnerships between clinical and non-clinical organizations to meet program requirements.
Key Dates
Letter of Intent Deadline: April 10, 2026
Cohort 1 Application Deadline: May 15, 2026
ATA Action will be submitting a letter with clarifying questions and recommendations on the model.
ATA Action Annual Hill Day Fly-In: June 9-10 I Washington, DC
ATA Action will be hosting its annual 2026 Hill Day Fly-In, taking place on June 9-10!
On Tuesday evening, June 9, we’ll kick things off with a reception at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, DC, welcoming our ATA and ATA Action members, Members of Congress, and their staffers. ATA members are invited to attend this engaging event. Please register here if you are interested in attending.
On Wednesday morning, June 10, ATA Action members will head to Capitol Hill for a full day of meetings with virtual care policy champions in Congress and their staffers, Trump administration officials, and other federal policy leaders.
Last year, ATA Action members met with over 40 Congressional offices, including members of key committees of jurisdiction as well as House leadership. Contact Alexis Apple (aapple@ataaction.org) for more information.
State Policy Updates
Important State Policy Win: Michigan Reaches Deal to Stay in Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
Michigan Senate and House leadership have reached an agreement to pass House Bill 5455, keeping Michigan in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) and averting what would have been the first-ever state withdrawal from the compact.
Read our press release urging Michigan policymakers to extend membership in IMLC.
Following bipartisan public statements from leadership in both chambers, HB 5455 passed the legislature on March 24 and confidence is high the bill will be signedbefore the March 28 deadline — avoiding significant disruption for patients and providers.
Thank you to the ATA and ATA Action members who signed our coalition letter and engaged independently on this issue. We will continue to monitor until the bill is signed.
From Washington, DC — with 🧡 for the work our community leads in care.
ATA, 601 13th St NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20005, United States
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