ATA Action, the advocacy arm of the American Telemedicine Association, is voicing support for a bill that would end the country’s longest government shutdown and reinstate Medicare telehealth coverage and the Acute Hospital Care at Home program, as members of the U.S. House of Representatives are returning to Washington for a critical vote on this legislation, passed by the U.S. Senate last night.
“We appeal to Members of the House to put aside disagreements and do what is right for the American people, and in particular, Medicare beneficiaries, who have been without urgently needed telehealth services and the Acute Hospital Care at Home program for far too long,” said Kyle Zebley, executive director, ATA Action, and senior vice president, public policy, the ATA. “Any legislation that ends this lapse and gets needed care covered again is far better than allowing the disruption to continue.”
The continuing resolution (CR) would extend Medicare telehealth flexibilities and the Acute Hospital Care at Home program through January 30, 2026, and allow retroactive payment for these services since the temporary waivers lapsed on October 1, 2025.
“We appreciate that this legislation includes critical bipartisan telehealth policies, but such a short-term extension for services this essential remains concerning. We call on Congress and the administration to now move toward a permanent fix – or at least a multi-year extension – to restore stability and predictability for millions of patients and the providers who rely on telehealth every day. We cannot end up back in the same position in January, staring down another avoidable lapse driven by partisanship or process. Patients and providers deserve certainty, not recurring cliffs,” Zebley added. “There are strong bipartisan vehicles, including the widely supported CONNECT for Health Act (S.1261, HR 4602), that could finally end this cycle and secure lasting access.”
“We will continue to work with our champions in Congress and leaders in the Trump Administration to establish telehealth as a permanent part of healthcare delivery, so that patients receive the care they need, when and where they need it,” Zebley said.
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).
