FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEnJuly 23, 2026
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Washington D.C. – A powerful coalition comprising over 200 health care organizations, patient advocacy groups, and clinicians converged on Capitol Hill today, delivering a resounding message to Members of Congress: permanent Medicare telehealth access is not merely a convenience, but an essential component of modern healthcare infrastructure that must be protected. Led by the Alliance for Connected Care, the event served as a critical platform to present the "Telehealth Voters Pledge," a comprehensive appeal signed by a diverse array of stakeholders, including the Epilepsy Alliance America, all united in their call to end the precarious cycle of short-term extensions and establish lasting statutory authority for virtual care.
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The current flexibilities that have sustained telehealth access since the COVID-19 pandemic are slated to expire on December 31, 2027. This impending deadline casts a long shadow over millions of Americans who have come to rely on virtual care for everything from routine check-ups to specialized mental health and chronic disease management. The coalition’s urgent plea comes with a stark warning, recalling the disruptive lapse in coverage in 2025, which demonstrably severed access for countless patients nationwide. Organizers emphatically declared that Congress cannot afford to repeat such a devastating oversight.
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The event, hosted by the Alliance for Connected Care, garnered significant bipartisan congressional support, with Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) sponsoring the gathering. Representative Carol Miller (R-WV) also joined as a featured speaker, underscoring the broad, nonpartisan consensus behind the pledge. Together, these leaders and the healthcare community outlined new commitments aimed at building crucial momentum for a decisive legislative push slated for the fall.
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"Epilepsy Alliance America is proud to stand with more than 200 health care organizations in this effort to protect Telehealth Access," stated a representative from the organization, highlighting the profound impact virtual care has on managing complex conditions and reducing barriers for vulnerable populations. This sentiment resonated throughout the day’s proceedings, as speaker after speaker articulated the indispensable role telehealth now plays in equitable, accessible healthcare delivery.
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Chronology: The Evolving Landscape of Telehealth Access
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The journey of telehealth from a niche service to a mainstream healthcare delivery model has been rapid and transformative, largely accelerated by unforeseen circumstances. Understanding this trajectory is crucial to grasping the current urgency on Capitol Hill.
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The Pandemic’s Catalyst and Initial Flexibilities
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Prior to 2020, Medicare’s coverage of telehealth services was largely restrictive, limited to specific geographic areas and types of services. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced an immediate and radical reevaluation of these policies. To ensure continued access to care while minimizing viral transmission, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rapidly expanded telehealth flexibilities, enabling a vast array of services to be delivered virtually. This included waiving geographical restrictions, expanding the types of providers who could offer telehealth, and broadening the list of covered services.
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Patients and providers alike embraced these new flexibilities with unprecedented enthusiasm. Telehealth quickly became a lifeline, facilitating everything from primary care visits and medication management to mental health counseling and chronic disease monitoring. It proved invaluable in protecting vulnerable populations, reducing strain on overwhelmed healthcare facilities, and maintaining continuity of care during a global health crisis. The experience demonstrated the profound potential of virtual care to overcome traditional barriers to access, particularly for those in rural areas, individuals with mobility challenges, and patients requiring frequent specialized consultations.
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The Perilous 2025 Lapse
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Despite the overwhelming success and widespread adoption, the expanded telehealth flexibilities were initially tied to the public health emergency (PHE) declaration. As the PHE drew to a close, concerns mounted about the potential for a sudden cessation of these vital services. Congress intervened with several short-term extensions, acknowledging the ongoing need for virtual care. However, in a stark illustration of the risks inherent in piecemeal legislative action, a temporary lapse in Medicare telehealth coverage did occur in 2025.
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This lapse, though relatively brief, sent shockwaves through the healthcare system. Patients suddenly found their virtual appointments cancelled or uncovered, forcing them to navigate complex new rules or revert to in-person visits that were often impractical, expensive, or even impossible. Providers faced immense administrative burdens and uncertainty, leading to disruptions in care coordination and a potential erosion of trust. For individuals with chronic conditions, mental health needs, or those living in medically underserved areas, the interruption was not merely an inconvenience but a significant barrier to their well-being. The 2025 experience served as a potent, real-world example of the detrimental impact of policy instability on patient care, reinforcing the coalition’s current plea: "Congress cannot afford to repeat" such a scenario.
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The Looming 2027 Deadline and a Call to Action
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Building on the lessons learned from 2025, the current set of telehealth flexibilities is set to expire on December 31, 2027. This looming deadline has ignited a renewed sense of urgency among healthcare stakeholders. The "Telehealth Voters Pledge" and today’s Capitol Hill event represent a concerted, proactive effort to secure a permanent solution before another crisis point is reached.
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The July 23, 2026 gathering was strategically designed to bring together key congressional leaders and the vast healthcare coalition to speak with a unified voice. The aim is not just to extend existing flexibilities, but to enact comprehensive, permanent legislation that provides certainty for both patients and providers. The event marked the beginning of a sustained advocacy campaign, with commitments outlined for a significant "fall legislative push" to ensure this critical issue remains at the forefront of congressional priorities. The message is clear: the time for temporary patches is over; the time for permanent solutions is now.
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Supporting Data: The Irrefutable Case for Permanent Telehealth
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The widespread adoption of telehealth during the pandemic was not a temporary fad but a fundamental shift in healthcare delivery, underpinned by robust evidence demonstrating its efficacy, efficiency, and profound benefits for diverse patient populations. The case for permanent Medicare telehealth coverage is built upon a foundation of compelling data and real-world impact.
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Broadening Access and Bridging Divides
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One of the most significant advantages of telehealth is its capacity to dismantle geographical and logistical barriers to care. For millions of Americans residing in rural and medically underserved communities, access to specialists, mental health providers, and even primary care physicians can be severely limited by distance, transportation challenges, and provider shortages. Telehealth bridges these divides, bringing expert care directly into patients’ homes. This is particularly vital for elderly individuals, those with disabilities, or patients with chronic conditions who may find frequent travel to appointments physically arduous or financially prohibitive. By eliminating the need for travel, telehealth not only saves time and money but also reduces missed appointments, leading to improved adherence to treatment plans and better health outcomes.
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Mental Health: A Critical Lifeline
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The United States faces a pervasive and escalating mental health crisis, exacerbated by a severe shortage of behavioral health providers. Debbie Witchey, President and CEO of the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW), starkly highlighted this disparity: "Nearly one in every four Americans, approximately 60 million people, experience a mental illness annually, and right now, there is only one mental health provider for every 340 people in the U.S." In this context, telehealth has emerged as an indispensable tool for expanding access to vital mental health services. Virtual therapy and counseling sessions offer privacy, convenience, and flexibility, encouraging individuals who might otherwise avoid in-person visits due to stigma or logistical challenges to seek care. Allowing permanent Medicare telehealth services and repealing the archaic in-person requirement for mental health services would be a monumental step towards ensuring that individuals can "start or continue their care without disruption," directly addressing a critical public health need.
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End-of-Life Care and Chronic Disease Management
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For individuals facing serious illnesses or navigating end-of-life care, telehealth offers invaluable support and comfort. Bernadette Nunley, Chief Legal Advocacy Officer for Compassion & Choices, emphasized this aspect: "This access is important for ensuring that our constituencies are able to routinely check in with their clinicians without the burden of leaving home." Telehealth has proven instrumental in expanding access to palliative care specialists, facilitating hospice consultations, and providing essential symptom management, which is particularly crucial for those at end-of-life. Moreover, virtual platforms make the completion and periodic updating of advance care plans significantly easier and therefore more likely, empowering patients to make informed decisions about their future care. For patients managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or epilepsy, regular virtual check-ins enable proactive monitoring, timely adjustments to treatment, and consistent support, potentially preventing acute exacerbations and improving long-term quality of life.
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Efficiency and Convenience for All
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Beyond addressing critical access gaps, telehealth offers tangible benefits in terms of efficiency and convenience for a broader spectrum of patients. Jon Thiboutot, President of Retail Health at CVS Health, articulated this practical advantage: "We see every day how virtual care can remove barriers to getting help. Our MinuteClinic virtual care services, including mental health support, make it easier for all patients to get the care they need in ways that fit their lives." The ability to consult with a healthcare provider from home or work, without the need for travel, parking, or waiting room time, significantly reduces the burden on patients. This convenience can lead to higher patient satisfaction, better adherence to medical advice, and a more integrated approach to personal health management.
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Healthcare Infrastructure: Beyond Convenience
Mordy Eisenberg, Co-Founder of Tapestry Health, powerfully reframed the discussion, stating, "Telehealth isn’t a convenience, it’s infrastructure." He elaborated on its critical role in skilled nursing and long-term care facilities, where "virtual clinical access is often the difference between a resident being stabilized in their bed at 2 a.m. or being shipped to an ED for a condition that could have been managed on-site." This perspective highlights telehealth as an essential layer of support, particularly for vulnerable populations and institutional settings, where timely intervention can prevent costly and disruptive transfers to emergency departments. Permanent telehealth access, Eisenberg asserted, "isn’t a partisan issue. It’s a basic question of whether we believe frail elders and rural Americans deserve the same standard of care as everyone else."
Economic Benefits and Provider Certainty
From an economic standpoint, permanent telehealth coverage offers substantial benefits. It can reduce healthcare costs by preventing unnecessary emergency room visits, facilitating earlier interventions, and improving chronic disease management. For healthcare providers and systems, certainty in telehealth policy allows for strategic planning, investment in technology, and integration of virtual care into their long-term operational models. Temporary extensions create instability, making it difficult for organizations to build robust telehealth programs, train staff, and invest in necessary infrastructure, ultimately hindering the evolution of care delivery.
The Power of a Unified Front
The "Telehealth Voters Pledge" itself is a testament to the overwhelming support for permanent coverage. Signed by more than 200 organizations, the coalition represents a comprehensive cross-section of the healthcare ecosystem: patient advocacy organizations (like Epilepsy Alliance America), clinician associations, hospitals and health systems, and technology companies. This broad, diverse backing underscores that the call for permanent telehealth is not a narrow special interest plea, but a unified demand from those on the front lines of healthcare delivery and those who rely on its services. Their collective voice, representing millions of Americans, provides irrefutable evidence that telehealth is no longer an optional add-on but an indispensable component of equitable and effective healthcare.
Official Responses: Voices from the Coalition
The July 23rd event brought together a chorus of voices, each articulating the critical need for permanent Medicare telehealth coverage from their unique vantage points. Their collective statements paint a clear picture of the widespread impact and urgent necessity of this policy change.
Alliance for Connected Care: A Unified Plea
Chris Adamec, Executive Director of the Alliance for Connected Care, minced no words in his assessment of the situation. "We saw what happens when Medicare telehealth coverage lapses; real patients lost real access in 2025," Adamec stated, referencing the disruptive previous expiration. He emphasized that Congress has "the evidence, the coalition, and the runway to fix this before it happens again. There’s no excuse to wait until this care is about to expire again to act." Adamec’s frustration with the cycle of temporary fixes was palpable, "We’ve patched Medicare telehealth access together with short-term extensions for too long. Today, more than 200 organizations are telling Congress to stop kicking the can down the road, and make this permanent." His remarks underscored the coalition’s unified demand for decisive, long-term legislative action.
Congressional Champions
The bipartisan support for permanent telehealth was clearly demonstrated by the presence and statements of the congressional sponsors. Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA), long-time advocates for healthcare access and innovation, lent their significant weight to the cause. Their sponsorship of the event highlighted the growing recognition within Congress of telehealth’s transformative potential. The participation of Representative Carol Miller (R-WV) further solidified the bipartisan nature of the initiative, demonstrating that the benefits of telehealth transcend political divides and resonate with lawmakers across the ideological spectrum who prioritize constituent access to care. Their commitment signals a promising path forward for legislative action.
Advocates for Mental Wellness
Debbie Witchey, President and CEO of the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW), provided a sobering perspective on the mental health crisis and telehealth’s role in addressing it. "Nearly one in every four Americans, approximately 60 million people, experience a mental illness annually, and right now, there is only one mental health provider for every 340 people in the U.S.," she reiterated. Witchey stressed that "Allowing permanent Medicare telehealth services and repealing the mental health services in-person requirement will protect access to care and ensure individuals start or continue their care without disruption." Her statement powerfully illustrates how telehealth is not just an alternative, but often the only viable pathway to mental health support for millions.
Ensuring Dignified Care
Bernadette Nunley, Chief Legal Advocacy Officer for Compassion & Choices, brought an essential focus to end-of-life care. "Compassion & Choices is committed to advocating for making Medicare telehealth coverage permanent," Nunley affirmed. She elaborated on the profound impact for their constituents: "This access is important for ensuring that our constituencies are able to routinely check in with their clinicians without the burden of leaving home. Telehealth has been shown to expand access to palliative care specialists, hospice consultations, and symptom management, which is especially important for folks at end-of-life. Telehealth also makes the completion and periodic updating of advance care plans easier and therefore more likely." Her testimony underscored the dignity and comfort telehealth can provide during life’s most challenging moments.
Industry Leaders Embrace Virtual Solutions
Representing a major healthcare provider, Jon Thiboutot, President of Retail Health at CVS Health, shared an industry perspective on telehealth’s value. "It is time for permanent Medicare telehealth policy that protects access for older adults across the U.S. and reduces uncertainty for patients and providers alike," Thiboutot asserted. He highlighted CVS Health’s commitment: "I’m proud that CVS Health has supported these flexibilities since the pandemic – we see every day how virtual care can remove barriers to getting help. Our MinuteClinic virtual care services, including mental health support, make it easier for all patients to get the care they need in ways that fit their lives." This statement from a major player in retail healthcare demonstrates the tangible integration of virtual care into mainstream delivery models.
Telehealth as Essential Infrastructure
Mordy Eisenberg, Co-Founder of Tapestry Health, offered a compelling reframe of the telehealth discussion. "Telehealth isn’t a convenience, it’s infrastructure," Eisenberg declared. He passionately argued for its necessity in settings like skilled nursing and long-term care, where "virtual clinical access is often the difference between a resident being stabilized in their bed at 2 a.m. or being shipped to an ED for a condition that could have been managed on-site." Eisenberg concluded with a powerful call to action: "Permanent telehealth access isn’t a partisan issue. It’s a basic question of whether we believe frail elders and rural Americans deserve the same standard of care as everyone else. We are proud to stand with the Alliance for Connected Care in urging every candidate in 2026 to commit to making these protections permanent."
Academic and Health System Perspectives
Dr. Chad Ellimoottil, MD, MS, Medical Director of Virtual Care at University of Michigan Health, provided an academic and institutional perspective. "Permanent Medicare telehealth policy is essential to protecting access to timely, high-quality care for America’s seniors," Dr. Ellimoottil emphasized. He affirmed the commitment of his institution: "we are committed to educating voters and policymakers about the need to move beyond temporary extensions and create lasting statutory authority for telehealth in 2026." His words highlight the critical role of telehealth in ensuring equitable, high-quality care for older adults within large health systems.
Healthcare Leadership’s Vision
The Healthcare Leadership Council, representing a broad spectrum of healthcare executives, echoed the sentiment of universal access. "Telehealth has become an essential lifeline for Americans to access care, particularly those in rural and underserved communities where getting to or even booking in-person visits can be difficult," the Council stated. They pledged their commitment to the cause: "We are committed to working with policymakers to move beyond temporary extensions and establish permanent Medicare telehealth policies that provide certainty for patients and providers to strengthen care delivery nationwide." This statement reflects the strategic imperative for industry leaders to integrate telehealth into future care models.
Social Work’s Crucial Role
Heidi McIntosh, MSW, Chief Operating Officer for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), highlighted the specific importance of telemental health from the perspective of social workers. "The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) hears from social workers across the country about the importance and efficacy of telemental health," McIntosh noted. She articulated the direct impact of policy instability on their clients: "Social workers and their clients should not have to face recurring lapses in care while telehealth is not permanently extended. NASW is committed to making permanent telehealth a reality." Her statement underscores the direct patient-level impact of telehealth for vulnerable populations served by social workers.
Epilepsy Alliance America’s Stand
As one of the over 200 organizations standing firm with the Alliance for Connected Care, Epilepsy Alliance America’s participation is particularly significant. For individuals living with epilepsy, consistent and timely access to neurological care, medication management, and support services is paramount. Telehealth can significantly reduce the burden of travel, minimize exposure to potential triggers, and provide vital continuity of care, especially for those in remote areas or with mobility challenges. Their unwavering support underscores the life-changing impact of permanent telehealth access for patients managing complex, chronic conditions.
Implications: The Path Forward
The collective message delivered on Capitol Hill today is clear: the future of healthcare in America hinges on the permanent integration of telehealth into Medicare policy. The implications of inaction are dire, while the potential benefits of a stable, long-term framework are profound.
Avoiding Another Crisis
The most immediate and critical implication of the coalition’s efforts is the prevention of another care crisis. As evidenced by the 2025 lapse, temporary expirations of telehealth flexibilities do not merely cause administrative headaches; they directly disrupt patient care, leading to delayed diagnoses, interrupted treatments, and exacerbated health conditions. For vulnerable populations – the elderly, those with chronic illnesses, individuals in rural areas, and those facing mental health challenges – a sudden loss of telehealth access can have catastrophic consequences. Permanent legislation would eliminate this Sword of Damocles hanging over patients and providers, providing the stability necessary for consistent, high-quality care.
Building Legislative Momentum
The "Telehealth Voters Pledge" and the Capitol Hill event are strategically timed to build significant legislative momentum ahead of a crucial "fall legislative push." The coalition’s commitments extend beyond today’s event, encompassing a multi-faceted strategy:
- Educating voters: Ensuring that the public understands the critical importance of telehealth access and holding elected officials accountable.
- Advocating with policymakers: Engaging directly with members of Congress and their staff to highlight the data, patient stories, and economic benefits of permanent coverage.
- Highlighting bipartisan support: Continuously emphasizing that this is a nonpartisan issue focused solely on the policy merits of access to care, thereby encouraging cross-aisle collaboration.
This sustained effort aims to embed permanent telehealth as a top legislative priority, ensuring it is addressed decisively before the 2027 deadline.
A Bipartisan Imperative
The bipartisan presence of Representatives Matsui, Thompson, and Miller at the event underscores a vital implication: permanent telehealth is not a partisan issue. It transcends political divides because it addresses fundamental needs for healthcare access, efficiency, and equity that resonate with constituents across the country. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle recognize the transformative power of virtual care to improve health outcomes, reduce costs, and support local communities. This broad consensus offers a strong foundation for successful legislative action, provided that political will can overcome legislative inertia.
The Future of Healthcare Delivery
Enacting permanent Medicare telehealth policy would solidify its role as an indispensable component of the future of healthcare delivery. It would allow health systems, providers, and technology companies to invest with confidence in developing more sophisticated, integrated virtual care models. This stability would foster innovation in areas such as remote patient monitoring, AI-assisted diagnostics, and personalized virtual care pathways. Permanent policy would enable a seamless blend of in-person and virtual care, creating a more flexible, responsive, and patient-centered healthcare system that is better equipped to handle future public health challenges and evolving patient needs.
Empowering Patients and Providers
Ultimately, permanent telehealth access is about empowerment. It empowers patients to take a more active role in managing their health, accessing specialists they might otherwise never see, and receiving care in a manner that fits their lives. It empowers providers to practice more efficiently, reach a broader patient base, and offer more comprehensive, coordinated care. The certainty provided by permanent legislation would reduce administrative burdens, allow for better workforce planning, and foster an environment where healthcare professionals can focus on delivering high-quality care without the constant threat of policy changes.
As the December 31, 2027, deadline draws closer, the urgency of the moment cannot be overstated. The broad coalition, spearheaded by organizations like the Alliance for Connected Care and supported by patient advocacy groups such as Epilepsy Alliance America, has made its voice heard loud and clear on Capitol Hill. The question now rests with Congress: Will they heed the call to secure permanent Medicare telehealth access, or will they allow another care crisis to unfold? The health and well-being of millions of Americans hang in the balance.
Learn more about the Telehealth Voters Pledge and the growing coalition working to make permanent Medicare telehealth a national priority at connectwithcare.org/pledge.
