FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEnJuly 23, 2026
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Washington D.C. – In a powerful display of unity and resolve, a formidable coalition of over 200 leading healthcare organizations, patient advocacy groups, and clinicians converged on Capitol Hill today, delivering a resounding message to Congress: permanent Medicare telehealth coverage is not merely a convenience, but an indispensable pillar of modern American healthcare that must be protected. Spearheaded by the Alliance for Connected Care, the event served as a critical platform to present the "Telehealth Voters Pledge," a bipartisan appeal urging lawmakers to end the cycle of temporary extensions and enshrine virtual care access into law.
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The call to action comes at a pivotal moment, with current telehealth flexibilities—initially expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic—set to expire on December 31, 2027. Stakeholders warn that a repeat of the care disruptions experienced during a previous lapse in 2025 would be catastrophic for millions of Americans, underscoring the urgent need for decisive legislative action well ahead of the looming deadline.
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Main Facts: A Unified Front for Enduring Access
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Today’s event, hosted by the Alliance for Connected Care, brought together a diverse cross-section of healthcare leaders, patient representatives, and congressional champions to articulate the compelling case for permanent Medicare telehealth coverage. The "Telehealth Voters Pledge," a document embodying the collective will of over 200 organizations, was formally presented to Members of Congress. This unprecedented show of solidarity highlights the broad consensus across the healthcare ecosystem: telehealth has transformed care delivery, and its continued, unfettered access is essential for patient well-being, health equity, and the resilience of the nation’s healthcare infrastructure.
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The coalition’s core demand is clear: Congress must act now to establish permanent statutory authority for Medicare telehealth services. This move would provide much-needed certainty for both patients and providers, allowing for long-term planning, investment in virtual care technologies, and the sustained integration of telehealth into routine medical practice. The message resonated deeply on Capitol Hill, with bipartisan support echoing through the halls of power.
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Chronology: The Evolution and Precarious State of Telehealth Access
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The journey of telehealth from a niche service to a mainstream care modality has been swift and transformative, largely accelerated by unforeseen global circumstances.
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The Pandemic’s Catalyst: A Rapid Expansion
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Before 2020, Medicare coverage for telehealth was largely restrictive, limited by geographical and originating site requirements that severely curtailed its widespread adoption. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 necessitated an immediate and dramatic shift in healthcare delivery. To ensure continuity of care while minimizing in-person contact, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), under the Public Health Emergency (PHE) declarations, rapidly expanded telehealth flexibilities. These temporary waivers allowed for a vast array of services to be delivered virtually, removed geographical restrictions, and enabled patients to receive care from the comfort and safety of their homes.
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This rapid expansion proved to be a lifeline for millions. Patients, many of whom were elderly, immunocompromised, or residing in rural areas with limited access to specialists, suddenly found themselves able to connect with their doctors, manage chronic conditions, receive mental health support, and even conduct routine check-ups without risking exposure or enduring arduous travel. Healthcare providers quickly adapted, integrating virtual platforms into their practices and recognizing the immense potential for efficiency and patient engagement.
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The 2025 Lapse: A Sobering Precedent
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While the PHE-era flexibilities demonstrated the undeniable value of telehealth, the subsequent transition periods have been fraught with uncertainty. Congress, recognizing the public’s reliance on virtual care, has repeatedly extended these flexibilities through short-term legislative patches. However, the inherent temporary nature of these extensions has created a precarious environment, leading to the "lapse in coverage in 2025" that organizers referenced.
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This lapse, though brief, served as a stark and painful reminder of the real-world consequences of an unstable telehealth policy. During this period, certain Medicare telehealth services that had become commonplace were no longer reimbursed, leading to immediate disruptions. Patients who had grown accustomed to virtual visits suddenly found their access curtailed, forcing them to navigate complex scheduling challenges, travel long distances, or, in many cases, delay or forego essential care. Providers faced administrative burdens, confusion over billing, and the difficult task of rescheduling virtual appointments as in-person visits, straining already tight resources. The 2025 disruption underscored a critical truth: telehealth is no longer an experimental add-on; it is an integrated and expected component of healthcare for many Americans, and its sudden withdrawal inflicts tangible harm.
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The Looming Deadline: December 31, 2027
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Today, the healthcare community faces another cliff edge. The current legislative extensions are slated to expire on December 31, 2027. Without permanent legislation, millions of Medicare beneficiaries risk losing access to crucial virtual care services, potentially reversing years of progress in expanding healthcare access and equity. The coalition’s message is unequivocal: waiting until the eleventh hour, as happened previously, is irresponsible and unacceptable. Congress has ample "runway" to act proactively and prevent another crisis.
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Supporting Data: The Indisputable Value of Telehealth
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The arguments for permanent telehealth are not based on conjecture but on a wealth of real-world experience, patient outcomes, and compelling data points. Telehealth has proven its efficacy across a multitude of healthcare dimensions, fundamentally altering the landscape of care delivery.
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Bridging the Mental Health Gap
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One of the most profound impacts of telehealth has been its role in addressing the escalating mental health crisis. As Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW) President and CEO Debbie Witchey highlighted, "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." This stark disparity underscores a critical access barrier that telehealth is uniquely positioned to overcome. Virtual behavioral health services have dramatically increased access to therapists, psychiatrists, and counselors, particularly for individuals in underserved areas or those facing mobility challenges, social stigma, or transportation issues. Repealing the outdated "mental health services in-person requirement" would further solidify this vital lifeline, ensuring continuous, uninterrupted support for those in dire need.
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Enhancing Access for Vulnerable Populations
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Telehealth has emerged as a powerful tool for promoting health equity, particularly for elderly individuals, those with chronic conditions, and residents of rural communities. Bernadette Nunley, Chief Legal Advocacy Officer for Compassion & Choices, emphasized its importance for end-of-life care, stating, "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." For these vulnerable populations, the burden of leaving home for routine check-ups or specialist consultations can be immense, often leading to delayed or forgone care. Virtual visits alleviate this burden, ensuring timely interventions and improved quality of life.
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Infrastructure for Long-Term Care and Rural Communities
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The notion of telehealth as mere convenience has been debunked; it is, as Mordy Eisenberg, Co-Founder of Tapestry Health, eloquently put it, "infrastructure." He elaborated on its critical role in skilled nursing and long-term care facilities: "In skilled nursing and long-term care, 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 not only improves patient outcomes by avoiding traumatic transfers but also reduces the strain on emergency departments and lowers healthcare costs. For rural Americans, where specialist care may be hundreds of miles away, telehealth represents a fundamental shift towards equitable access, delivering care that was previously unreachable.
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Driving Innovation and Efficiency
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Major healthcare providers and technology companies also attest to telehealth’s integral role. Jon Thiboutot, President of Retail Health at CVS Health, highlighted 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 demonstrates how large-scale providers are integrating virtual care as a core component of their service offerings, recognizing its potential for patient convenience and operational efficiency. Permanent policy fosters continued innovation and investment in these solutions, driving advancements that benefit the entire healthcare ecosystem.
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Academic and Provider Perspectives
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From academic medical centers to front-line social workers, the consensus is clear. Chad Ellimoottil, MD, MS, Medical Director of Virtual Care at University of Michigan Health, stressed that "Permanent Medicare telehealth policy is essential to protecting access to timely, high-quality care for America’s seniors and reduces uncertainty for patients and providers alike." Similarly, the Healthcare Leadership Council reinforced that "Telehealth has become an essential lifeline for Americans to access care, particularly those in rural and underserved communities." Heidi McIntosh, MSW, NASW Chief Operating Officer, echoed this sentiment from the social work perspective, stating, "Social workers and their clients should not have to face recurring lapses in care while telehealth is not permanently extended." These voices collectively underscore the practical, clinical, and systemic benefits that telehealth provides, making it an indispensable tool for a resilient and equitable healthcare system.
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Official Responses: Voices for Permanent Access
The Capitol Hill event featured a powerful lineup of speakers, including congressional representatives and key healthcare leaders, all united in their demand for permanent telehealth access.
Chris Adamec, Executive Director of the Alliance for Connected Care, minced no words in his opening remarks, reflecting the frustration and urgency felt across the coalition. "We saw what happens when Medicare telehealth coverage lapses; real patients lost real access in 2025. 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 stated emphatically. He further condemned the legislative inertia, adding, "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 words served as a rallying cry, emphasizing that the time for temporizing measures is over.
The event also garnered significant bipartisan support from Congress. Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA), long-time advocates for connected care, sponsored the event, demonstrating their commitment to securing permanent telehealth flexibilities. Their presence underscored the legislative groundwork that has been laid and the ongoing efforts to shepherd a permanent solution through Congress. Joining them as a featured speaker was Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV), whose participation powerfully highlighted the bipartisan consensus around this issue. Representative Miller’s advocacy, particularly for rural constituents in West Virginia, resonates with the core argument that telehealth is a non-partisan issue of access and equity. The bipartisan representation at the event sends a strong signal that permanent telehealth access is not a political football but a shared priority for improving healthcare nationwide.
Further amplifying the message were the impassioned statements from coalition leaders and pledge signatories:
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Debbie Witchey, President and CEO of the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW), passionately articulated the mental health imperative: "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 underscored the urgent need to sustain and expand virtual mental health services as a critical response to the national behavioral health crisis.
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Bernadette Nunley, Chief Legal Advocacy Officer for Compassion & Choices, highlighted the humanitarian aspect for those at the end of life: "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 also makes the completion and periodic updating of advance care plans easier and therefore more likely." Her perspective brought a crucial focus on patient dignity and choice in managing complex health journeys.
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Jon Thiboutot, President of Retail Health at CVS Health, provided the perspective of a major integrated healthcare provider: "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. 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." His comments affirmed the strategic importance of telehealth within large-scale healthcare delivery models.
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Mordy Eisenberg, Co-Founder of Tapestry Health, offered a stark and powerful analogy: "Telehealth isn’t a convenience, it’s infrastructure. In skilled nursing and long-term care, 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. 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." Eisenberg’s call to action was directed at every candidate in 2026, urging them to commit to these protections.
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Chad Ellimoottil, MD, MS, Medical Director of Virtual Care at University of Michigan Health, emphasized the academic and provider’s need for stability: "Permanent Medicare telehealth policy is essential to protecting access to timely, high-quality care for America’s seniors, and 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."
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The Healthcare Leadership Council reinforced the broad societal benefit: "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. 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."
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Heidi McIntosh, MSW, Chief Operating Officer for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), brought the critical voice of mental health practitioners: "The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) hears from social workers across the country about the importance and efficacy of telemental health. 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."
These collective voices paint a clear and urgent picture: the medical community, patient advocates, and industry leaders are unequivocally aligned in their demand for permanent Medicare telehealth coverage.
Implications: Shaping the Future of American Healthcare
The decision facing Congress regarding permanent Medicare telehealth coverage carries profound implications that will shape the trajectory of American healthcare for decades to come. Beyond simply maintaining access, permanent policy signals a fundamental shift in how healthcare is conceived, delivered, and received.
Patient Access, Equity, and Empowerment
The most immediate and significant implication is on patient access and health equity. Permanent telehealth flexibilities would solidify an essential pathway for millions of Americans, particularly those in historically underserved communities. Rural populations, elderly individuals with mobility challenges, and those managing chronic conditions would retain the ability to receive consistent, high-quality care without the prohibitive barriers of travel, time off work, or childcare. This translates directly into improved health outcomes, reduced missed appointments, and better management of chronic diseases, ultimately empowering patients to take a more active role in their health journey. A lapse in coverage, conversely, would disproportionately harm these vulnerable groups, exacerbating existing health disparities.
Provider Certainty and Workflow Integration
For healthcare providers, permanent policy offers crucial certainty. The current cycle of temporary extensions creates an unstable environment, making it challenging for health systems, clinics, and individual practitioners to invest in technology, train staff, and fully integrate virtual care into their long-term operational strategies. With permanent authority, providers can confidently incorporate telehealth into their care models, leading to more efficient workflows, reduced administrative burdens, and better resource allocation. This stability can also help mitigate provider burnout by offering flexible care delivery options and optimizing their time. Without it, providers face ongoing confusion, potential financial losses from unreimbursed services, and a reluctance to fully embrace virtual care’s potential.
Innovation and Technological Advancement
A robust, permanent policy framework is a powerful catalyst for innovation. When the future of telehealth is uncertain, technology companies and healthcare innovators are hesitant to make significant investments in developing new platforms, devices, and digital health solutions. Permanent Medicare coverage sends a clear market signal, encouraging research and development in areas like remote patient monitoring, artificial intelligence-powered diagnostics, and advanced virtual consultation tools. This fosters a dynamic ecosystem of innovation that can lead to more sophisticated, personalized, and effective virtual care options for patients. Conversely, a return to restrictive policies would stifle this progress, leaving the U.S. healthcare system lagging behind global technological advancements.
Economic Impact and Healthcare System Resilience
Beyond clinical benefits, permanent telehealth has significant economic implications. By reducing unnecessary emergency room visits (as highlighted by Tapestry Health for long-term care residents), decreasing hospital readmissions through better chronic disease management, and optimizing provider efficiency, telehealth can contribute to overall cost savings within the healthcare system. It can also reduce indirect costs for patients, such as transportation, lost wages, and childcare expenses. Furthermore, a resilient healthcare system, capable of adapting to future crises (like pandemics or natural disasters) through established virtual care pathways, is invaluable. Permanent telehealth strengthens this resilience, ensuring continuity of care even in challenging circumstances.
Addressing the Mental Health Crisis
The ongoing national mental health crisis demands a sustained, multifaceted response, and telehealth is undeniably a cornerstone of that strategy. Permanent coverage for virtual behavioral health services is essential to meet the skyrocketing demand for mental healthcare, especially given the severe shortage of providers. Without it, the progress made in expanding access to therapy, counseling, and psychiatric support would be jeopardized, potentially leading to a worsening of mental health outcomes across the population.
In essence, the decision before Congress is not merely about a specific healthcare modality; it is about defining the future trajectory of American healthcare—one that is more accessible, equitable, innovative, and resilient. The coalition’s unified voice on Capitol Hill serves as a stark reminder of the high stakes involved and the imperative for swift, decisive action.
The Coalition’s Path Forward: Strategic Commitments
Recognizing the urgency of the moment, the coalition leaders and pledge signatories are not merely waiting for congressional action; they are actively committing to a robust, multi-pronged strategy to build momentum and ensure permanent Medicare telehealth coverage becomes a national priority. Their activities are strictly nonpartisan, focused solely on the policy merits and the undeniable benefits of virtual care.
The core commitments include:
- Educating Voters: The coalition plans to launch comprehensive public awareness campaigns, informing voters about the critical importance of telehealth access and the potential consequences of a lapse in coverage. This effort will highlight patient stories and data points demonstrating how virtual care impacts real lives, empowering constituents to engage with their elected officials.
- Engaging Policymakers: Through ongoing dialogues, briefings, and direct advocacy, the coalition will continue to engage Members of Congress and their staff. This includes providing detailed policy recommendations, sharing expert testimony, and presenting compelling evidence on the clinical, economic, and equity benefits of permanent telehealth. The goal is to ensure lawmakers fully understand the intricacies of telehealth policy and the broad, bipartisan support for its permanence.
- Building Grassroots Support: Beyond Washington D.C., the coalition aims to mobilize grassroots support across the country. This involves working with local patient advocacy groups, community organizations, and healthcare providers to amplify the message and demonstrate the widespread demand for permanent telehealth access.
- Developing Legislative Champions: The coalition will continue to identify and support legislative champions in both the House and Senate, across party lines, who are committed to advancing and passing permanent telehealth legislation. The bipartisan presence at today’s event, including Reps. Matsui, Thompson, and Miller, signifies the strength of this approach.
- Publicizing the Telehealth Voters Pledge: The pledge itself will serve as a central advocacy tool, demonstrating the unified voice of over 200 organizations. The coalition will actively publicize the pledge, encouraging more organizations and individuals to sign on and further solidify the broad consensus.
This concerted effort underscores the coalition’s determination to move beyond temporary fixes and secure a lasting legislative solution. Their commitment reflects a deep understanding that the future of healthcare depends on integrating virtual care as a permanent, reliable component of service delivery.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment for Connected Care
The unified call from patients, clinicians, and health system leaders on July 23, 2026, marks a defining moment in the ongoing battle for permanent Medicare telehealth access. The delivery of the Telehealth Voters Pledge to Congress is not merely a symbolic gesture; it is a powerful articulation of a national imperative. With the December 31, 2027, deadline looming and the painful memory of the 2025 lapse still fresh, the message to Capitol Hill is unambiguous: the time for short-term extensions is over.
Telehealth has proven its worth as an indispensable tool for bridging access gaps, addressing critical shortages in mental health providers, supporting vulnerable populations, and enhancing the overall resilience of the American healthcare system. Its benefits span across the political spectrum, touching the lives of urban and rural citizens, young and old, healthy and chronically ill. The bipartisan support witnessed today underscores that this is not a partisan issue, but a fundamental question of ensuring equitable, high-quality care for all Americans.
Congress has been presented with clear evidence, a broad and committed coalition, and sufficient time to act. The onus is now on lawmakers to heed this call, demonstrate foresight, and enact permanent Medicare telehealth coverage. Failing to do so would not only disrupt care for millions but also signal a regrettable retreat from a more accessible, innovative, and patient-centered future for American healthcare. The future of connected care hangs 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.
