The COVID-19 pandemic revolutionized healthcare delivery, with telehealth emerging as a cornerstone of accessible, patient-centered care. Millions of Americans reaped the benefits of temporary telehealth flexibilities enacted under emergency provisions, which dismantled barriers and expanded access to care across urban, suburban, and rural communities alike. These flexibilities were especially transformative for behavioral health services, chronic disease management, and routine care—areas that historically faced significant access challenges. However, with the end of the pandemic emergency period, these measures were at risk of expiring, threatening to disrupt care for millions.

The end-of-year congressional budget bill serves as a crucial intervention, offering a two-year extension of telehealth flexibilities. While this provides immediate relief, it is not a long-term solution. The ultimate goal must remain clear: permanent telehealth legislation by 2027, ensuring that healthcare access is seamless and uninterrupted for all Americans.

The 2024 Fall Digital Health Summit, hosted by the Center for Telehealth & e-Health Law (CTeL), gathered innovators, policymakers, and healthcare leaders in a spirited dialogue about the evolving landscape of digital health. The event offered a deep dive into some of the most pressing challenges and promising advancements in telehealth, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital therapeutics. Here’s a recap of the key themes, insights, and action items that emerged from the summit.

The Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law (CTeL) has presented a comprehensive agenda urging the 119th Congress to champion telehealth access, remote monitoring technologies, and artificial intelligence (AI) innovation in healthcare. In a detailed letter to Congressional leaders, CTeL outlined legislative priorities that address urgent healthcare challenges while fostering cost-effective, patient-centered care models.

As the Trump administration prepares its next chapter, the Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law (CTeL) has stepped forward with a bold vision for the future of American healthcare.

In a letter to Presidential Transition Team Co-Chairs Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick, Christa Natoli, Executive Director of CTeL, lays out a detailed roadmap for integrating telehealth and digital health technologies into the foundation of American healthcare. The letter emphasizes making pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities permanent, with actionable recommendations designed to expand access, streamline delivery, and reduce costs while improving outcomes.

With Congress at a standstill over passing the funding bill, the looming possibility of a government shutdown threatens to disrupt many critical services. Telehealth, a cornerstone of healthcare innovation since the COVID-19 pandemic, stands to face significant setbacks if funding stalls and policy decisions remain in limbo. Here’s a closer look at what this means for telehealth and how hospitals, providers, and organizations can prepare.