For leaders making digital integral to how care is accessed, delivered, and scaled.
A Message from ATA SVP of Public Policy, Kyle Zebley
This week, ATA Action took to Capitol Hill at a pivotal moment for virtual care policy—meeting with over 40 members of Congress and key committee leaders to push for permanent access to telehealth and bold progress in digital health innovation. This is a vital time for virtual care delivery, and the ATA and ATA Action are seizing the moment—advocating for smart, sustainable policy that reflects how care is being delivered today.
Our top federal priorities include:
Preserving Medicare telehealth flexibilities and expanding the Acute Hospital Care at Home program
Advancing HDHP-HSA telehealth access
Enabling safe remote prescribing of controlled substances
Supporting access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics (PDTs)
Expanding coverage for Virtual Foodcare, including Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)
Senator Hyde-Smith noted in her remarks that she hopes the Connect for Health Act, which would expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare and make COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities permanent, will be advanced outside of the reconciliation package. She added, "I just want to make sure that telehealth stays important, that it stays where it's supposed to be, that it's significant, and that we need to capitalize on so many things that we've done pretty well.” Representative Balderson added in his remarks that his office is focused on jump starting legislation for remote patient monitoring. “We're going to keep moving with the remote patient monitoring. It actually works.”
By all accounts, our Hill Day 2025 was a productive and impactful day, seizing this opportunity to push our mission forward. Thank you to all who joined us. Together, we’re making sure virtual care policy keeps pace with patient needs and clinical realities.
Kyle Zebley
Senior Vice President, Public Policy, ATA; Executive Director, ATA Action
MEMBER & COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
Three Ways Telehealth Can Help Address Fragmentation in Healthcare
A recent Wolters Kluwer article highlights how telehealth can reduce care fragmentation by aligning protocols, empowering patients, and improving EHR integration—and features ATA as leading an initiative advancing these goals. By spotlighting real-world innovations, ATA demonstrates how health systems are using connected care models to improve continuity, collaboration, and patient outcomes.
hellocare.ai Enters into Collaboration with Mayo Clinic for AI Co-Innovation Project
hellocare.ai has partnered with Mayo Clinic on a co-innovation project to explore artificial intelligence applications in healthcare. With studies showing that AI can reduce diagnostic errors by up to 30%, the collaboration aims to enhance clinical decision-making and operational efficiency through cutting-edge AI tools that combine Mayo Clinic's medical expertise with hellocare’s technology.
The panel emphasized that virtual care is now essential, particularly in rural areas, and has proven to be both safe and effective. However, they raised concerns about proposed DEA rules that could severely limit access to treatment. Panelists urged for practical, evidence-based policies that support patient care and clinician judgment without creating unnecessary barriers.
Key Takeaways:
Telemedicine is Essential: Virtual care has become a standard, effective way to treat OUD, especially in underserved and rural communities.
Regulatory Uncertainty Hurts Care: Ongoing DEA delays and restrictive proposals have destabilized operations, created fear among providers, and threatened patient access.
Access Must Be Protected: Rolling back current flexibilities could leave many patients without treatment options, increasing overdose risks.
Providers Want Practical Oversight: Stakeholders support regulation but need policies that are workable and don’t hinder care delivery.
Telehealth Can Improve Safety: Virtual platforms offer tools that can enhance monitoring and reduce diversion more effectively than in-person care alone.
Drive Telehealth Policy Forward: Serve on the ATA Policy Council
We’re seeking new members for a two-year term. The ATA Policy Council helps shape ATA and ATA Action’s positions on key state and federal policy issues, aligning advocacy efforts with our mission. Council members have played a vital role in developing principles on topics like health data privacy, AI, and virtual care—and their leadership is more important than ever.
Applicants for the Policy Council should have expertise in policy, law, or government affairs and hold relevant roles in their organizations (preference given to Level 5 members). Council members meet regularly and attend Nexus and EDGE conferences. To apply, complete the form by June 30; selected applicants will be notified by July 18.
CODE Spotlight: Structuring for Success: How Ochsner Health Aligns Clinical, Digital, and IT Teams to Power Connected Care
Ochsner Health is redefining the digital care landscape through an enterprise-wide agile transformation that aligns virtual care, IS, and clinical operations. From virtual nursing and emergency medicine to care navigation and product innovation, Ochsner has developed a highly collaborative, outcomes-driven model that embeds technology into every facet of the patient journey.
Key Features:
Virtual Emergency Department (OVID):
Staffed by ED physicians and patient navigators
Seamlessly integrates with Epic for secure referrals from clinics, urgent cares, and triage lines
Over 7,700 patients seen to date, with 70% successfully diverted from EDs
Estimated $612K in bad debt avoided for patients and the system
82% of patients followed through on recommended care
Agile Product Development via Journey Teams:
Cross-functional teams aligned by persona (patient, provider, clinician, partner)
Operate on two-week sprint cycles using business case rigor and defined metrics
Over 250 active projects, reduced from 500+ through rationalization and shared prioritization
Improved speed, alignment, and frontline adoption
Digital Nursing and Workforce Strategy:
Virtual nursing programs contribute to Ochsner’s <10% nursing turnover rate
Initiatives tailored to improve first-year retention, patient experience, and staff satisfaction
Embedded analytics teams track clinical outcomes and ROI across implementations
What’s Ahead: Ochsner is scaling its virtual care model to include expanded journey teams, integrated specialty care pilots, and ongoing measurement of digital health’s impact on cost, quality, and workforce sustainability. The Connected Health team’s “we, not I” philosophy underpins a unified mission to elevate care—virtually and systemwide.
Quote of the Spotlight:
"We’ve seen over 7,700 patients through our virtual ED—and kept 70% out of the emergency department. It’s not just a cost savings, it’s better care, delivered smarter.” - Lisa Birdsall Fort, MD
Clinician Council Recommended Research
Telehealth and Outpatient Utilization: Trends in Evaluation and Management Visits Among Medicare Fee-For-Service Beneficiaries, 2019-2024
This Michigan Medical School study investigates whether telehealth expansion post-COVID-19 has driven up outpatient healthcare utilization. Using Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) claims data from January 2019 to June 2024, researchers analyzed outpatient evaluation and management (E&M) visits across specialties with varying levels of telehealth adoption. The analysis found that, despite a surge in telehealth use at the pandemic’s peak, overall outpatient visit volumes have remained stable.
Key Takeaways:
Telehealth Use Stabilized: After peaking at 41% of E&M visits in April 2020, telehealth use leveled off to between 5.7% and 7.0% by 2023–2024
Specialty Variations: In the post-pandemic period, telehealth accounted for 43.8% of visits in behavioral health (high-use), 8.4% in primary care (medium-use), and just 1.2% in orthopedic surgery (low-use).
No Utilization Spike: Total E&M visit rates per 1,000 beneficiaries increased only slightly post-pandemic (906.8 to 918.6), with medium- and high-telehealth-use specialties showing modest declines in overall visits.
Key Conclusion: Increased telehealth adoption did not drive higher outpatient care utilization among Medicare FFS beneficiaries—alleviating concerns that telehealth would fuel overuse.
The ATA Home Testing Special Interest Group released a white paper addressing the regulation and reimbursement of at-home medical testing. The paper focuses on provider prescribed home collection and testing for screening, diagnosis, and monitoring outside of clinical settings. The ATA affirms that providers and patients should decide the appropriate setting for testing, and that regulatory policies should neither favor nor hinder home testing used alongside telemedicine. Additionally, the ATA advocates for fair and reasonable reimbursement for such tests.
DTx Integration & Workflow Report
Digital therapeutics (DTx) have the potential to close care gaps, but integration into the U.S. healthcare system requires coordination across stakeholders. This report identifies key barriers—especially around reimbursement and distribution—and mapped solutions, advancing efforts to make DTx part of standard care.
Upcoming SIG Meetings
Acute & Critical Care SIG and Digital Transformation SIG Joint Meeting 🗓️ Wednesday, June 18 🕛 12:00 PM ET
Remote Monitoring and Telerehabilitation Joint SIG 🗓️ Tuesday, June 24 🕛 3:00 PM ET
Home & Community Telehealth SIG 🗓️ Wednesday, June 25 🕛 12:00 PM ET
Telehealth Remains A Top Bipartisan Priority Outside Of Reconciliation During our Hill Day reception on June 10, lawmakers confirmed that “telehealth remains a top bipartisan priority despite not being included in the reconciliation package.” They also noted that “an extension of expiring Medicare flexibilities will likely be advanced in a standalone bill or health care package…” because “it has enough support to be extended or made permanent outside of a major spending package.” Read the full media coverage in Inside Health Policy.
TALKING PRESCRIPTION DIGITAL THERAPEUTICS ON GREAT DAY WASHINGTON
A key 2025 priority is working with policymakers to establish a Medicare/Medicaid benefit for FDA-approved Prescription Digital Therapeutics (PDTs), expanding access to app-based treatments that help diagnose, manage, or treat conditions. The recently reintroduced Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act provides the needed framework. Andy Molnar, ATA Action’s Digital Health lead, discussed the benefits of PDTs and our support for the bill on Great Day Washington this week. Watch Andy’s interview here.
HELP EXTEND FLEXIBILITIES ALLOWING REMOTE PRESCRIBING OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES!
Deadline: June 13
We urge your organization to sign this stakeholder letter urging the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to extend the remote prescribing of controlled substance flexibilities. In the past, DEA has waited until the last minute to announce extensions, creating uncertainty and concern for stakeholders. This letter urges DEA to ensure a plan is in place by the fall. If interested, please sign the letter here by COB tomorrow, June 13, 2025
STATE POLICY UPDATES
In recent weeks, ATA Action has submitted comprehensive comments to a number of states regarding legislation impacting our members, including:
ATA Action Letter in Support of Wisconsin Senate Bill 214 relating to cross-state telehealth provider registration. Read Letter Here »
ATA Action Letter to the to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing in Support of Expanded RPM Access in Colorado regarding a State Plan Amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to change Rural Health Clinic reimbursement for Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM). Read Letter Here »
ATA Action Letter in Support of Louisiana House Bill 399 to enact the Dietitian Licensure Compact. Read Letter Here »
Webinar | June 24, 2025 | 1:00 PM ET
Reshaping Healthcare Delivery: How Virtual Nursing Is Transforming Patient Care
As staffing shortages strain the nursing workforce, virtual nursing has emerged as a critical solution—helping healthcare systems retain experienced nurses, mentor new ones, and improve care delivery. In this webinar, we’ll explore how blending bedside and virtual care meets rising patient expectations, extends careers, and enables innovative use cases like AI-powered observation, remote admissions support, and virtual family visits.
Save the Date: November 16-18, 2025 | Orlando, FL ATA Insights Summit Small, expert-led working sessions designed for deep dives. Explore the building blocks of smart hospitals, command centers, and remote patient monitoring—powered by CODE member case studies.
Save the Date: December 10-12, 2025 | Washington, DC ATA EDGE Policy Conference The place where digital policy meets care model transformation. Shape care reimbursement, licensing, and workforce policy, alongside the systems and stakeholders defining what comes next.
From Washington, DC — with 🧡 for the work our community leads in care.
ATA, 601 13th St NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20005, United States
.png?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=THE%20ATA%20BRIEF%20(1).png)
.webp?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=CODE-Photo-Banner%20(3).webp)
.png?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=Newsletter%20Headers%20(4).png)
.png?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=Newsletter-SIGS%20(2).png)
.png?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=Newsletter-Action%20(1).png)
