CTeL Urges Congress to Cement Telehealth’s Future and Embrace Healthcare Innovation
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.
Telehealth: A Proven Model for Cost Savings and Patient Access
The COVID-19 pandemic was a watershed moment for telehealth, breaking down long-standing barriers that limited Medicare patients' access to remote care. Temporary waivers introduced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) allowed patients to receive care from the comfort of their homes, bypassing restrictive policies tied to geographic location, provider type, and eligible services. These flexibilities not only improved patient access but also demonstrated the potential of telehealth to transform healthcare delivery.
Under the emergency provisions, Medicare beneficiaries were able to consult with specialists, manage chronic conditions, and address acute health concerns without the need for travel. This shift significantly reduced the likelihood of conditions escalating to the point of requiring costly interventions like hospitalizations or long-term care.
The financial benefits of these waivers are undeniable. CTeL’s research has shown that telehealth can deliver substantial cost savings for Medicare. In Florida, for example, the use of telehealth for patients with neoplasm diagnoses led to a net savings of over $33 million in just six months. The cost reductions were not confined to rural areas; urban centers like New York City saw nearly 50% savings in Medicare spending for circulatory system diseases, highlighting telehealth’s broad applicability and efficiency.
These findings directly challenge the outdated notion that telehealth inflates healthcare costs. Historically, telehealth has been viewed through a lens of skepticism, with concerns about overutilization driving restrictive policies. However, the data emerging from the pandemic tells a different story: telehealth is not only cost-neutral but can lead to substantial savings when implemented effectively.
Despite these successes, the future of telehealth remains uncertain. With pandemic-era waivers set to expire, patients and providers face the potential reintroduction of pre-pandemic restrictions that could disrupt continuity of care and erode the progress made in expanding access. To prevent this, CTeL is advocating for the passage of the Telehealth Modernization Act of 2024, a pivotal piece of legislation that seeks to make Medicare telehealth flexibilities permanent.
“Congress has the opportunity to build on the strides we’ve made during the pandemic,” said Christa Natoli, Executive Director of CTeL. “We need them to act now to protect Medicare patients’ continuity of care and ensure that telehealth remains a vital component of our healthcare system.”
By codifying these flexibilities into law, the Telehealth Modernization Act would remove outdated originating site restrictions and provider limitations, ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries can continue to benefit from this transformative mode of care. Advocates argue that making these changes permanent will not only preserve access for millions of patients but also help healthcare systems manage costs more effectively in the long term.
CTeL’s findings provide a compelling case for lawmakers: telehealth works. It saves money, improves outcomes, and makes care more accessible. The challenge now lies in convincing Congress to act before the window of opportunity closes.
“We need Congress to act now to protect Medicare patients’ continuity of care and build on the progress we’ve made,” Christa Natoli, Executive Director.
Telehealth’s Critical Role in Addressing the Opioid Crisis
Telehealth has emerged as a lifeline in combating the opioid crisis, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person services were severely disrupted. Temporary waivers issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) allowed patients to access medication-assisted treatment (MAT) remotely, ensuring continuity of care for those battling addiction. This policy shift contributed significantly to a 10% decrease in overdose deaths—a rare and meaningful decline after years of rising fatalities.
By enabling telehealth for MAT, patients could engage with their providers more consistently, improving adherence to treatment plans and reducing barriers such as stigma, transportation, and scheduling conflicts. However, these gains are at risk. The DEA has yet to finalize the telemedicine special registration rule, mandated by the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act of 2018, leaving patients vulnerable to gaps in care.
This rule, which Congress originally directed the DEA to establish by October 2019, remains stalled. A temporary extension has provided a short reprieve, but uncertainty looms for thousands of patients relying on telehealth to maintain their recovery. Advocates argue that without a permanent framework, these patients could lose access to essential care, risking relapse and a reversal of the progress made during the pandemic.
CTeL has called on Congress to intervene, urging lawmakers to pressure the DEA to issue a finalized rule that ensures uninterrupted access to MAT via telehealth. As Christa Natoli, CTeL’s Executive Director, warns, “The progress we’ve made in reducing overdose deaths is too significant to jeopardize. Policymakers must prioritize patient safety and access to care.”
“The progress we’ve made in reducing overdose deaths is too significant to jeopardize. Policymakers must prioritize patient safety and access to care.”
The stakes are particularly high for rural and underserved communities, where in-person MAT services are often sparse or unavailable. Telehealth has bridged these gaps, enabling patients in even the most remote areas to receive treatment. Without a permanent regulatory solution, these communities could face disproportionately negative impacts, exacerbating existing health disparities.
CTeL’s advocacy underscores the need for Congress and the DEA to act swiftly, creating a stable and reliable telehealth framework for addiction treatment. With bipartisan support for addressing the opioid epidemic, finalizing the telemedicine special registration rule is a critical step in ensuring that life-saving treatments remain accessible to all who need them.
Protecting Telehealth Access for HDHP Enrollees
High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs), which pair lower premiums with higher out-of-pocket costs, are a cornerstone of health coverage for over 60% of insured Americans. These plans are particularly popular due to their compatibility with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), offering tax advantages for medical expenses. However, this affordability is at risk as the safe harbor allowing HDHPs to waive deductibles for telehealth services is set to expire in 2025.
The safe harbor provision, introduced under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, allowed HDHP enrollees to access telehealth services without meeting their deductible first. This flexibility has been extended multiple times, most recently through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, but remains temporary. If Congress does not act, millions of Americans will lose affordable access to virtual care, forcing many to delay preventive services and chronic care management due to cost barriers.
Telehealth has proven essential for individuals enrolled in HDHPs, especially for preventative and routine care. Without the safe harbor, HDHP enrollees could face significant financial hurdles to accessing virtual healthcare, undermining the progress made during the pandemic to expand telehealth services to all Americans.
CTeL is urging Congress to address this looming issue by reintroducing and passing the Telehealth Expansion Act of 2023 or similar legislation. This bill aims to extend the safe harbor permanently, preserving a lifeline for millions of Americans who depend on telehealth for affordable, accessible care.
“Telehealth isn’t just a convenience—it’s a necessity for countless Americans navigating high-deductible insurance plans,” said Christa Natoli, Executive Director of CTeL. “Congress must ensure that HDHP enrollees don’t face new barriers to the care they need by making this safe harbor permanent.”
“Congress must ensure that HDHP enrollees don’t face new barriers to the care they need by making this safe harbor permanent.”
The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated. Without action, the expiration of the safe harbor could exacerbate disparities in healthcare access, particularly for low- and middle-income families already struggling with high out-of-pocket costs. Telehealth services are not merely a temporary fix—they are a transformative approach to delivering care that prioritizes accessibility, efficiency, and prevention.
Passing legislation to preserve this critical flexibility would ensure that HDHP enrollees can continue to benefit from telehealth, fostering better health outcomes while reducing financial strain. It is now up to Congress to act decisively to protect these gains and solidify telehealth as a mainstay of modern healthcare.
Unlocking the Potential of Remote Monitoring Technologies
Remote Physiological Monitoring (RPM) and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) are revolutionizing how healthcare providers manage chronic conditions, detect potential complications, and tailor treatment plans. These technologies leverage devices such as smartwatches, blood pressure cuffs, and glucose monitors to collect real-time patient data outside the clinical setting. The result? Improved outcomes through timely interventions and significant cost savings by reducing the need for hospitalizations and emergency care.
The potential of remote monitoring extends beyond chronic disease management to areas like addiction recovery. For instance, cutting-edge technologies are now capable of predicting opioid cravings hours in advance by analyzing physiological markers. This predictive capability enables healthcare providers to intervene proactively, directing resources and support where they are most needed. Such innovations are life-saving and represent a monumental shift in addiction treatment.
However, the broad adoption of RPM and RTM technologies depends heavily on supportive payment policies. The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel recently introduced codes allowing reimbursement for remote monitoring services with a reduced data collection period—from 16 out of 30 days to just two. This change could significantly expand the use of remote monitoring by making it more accessible to providers and patients.
But without reimbursement mandates, these new standards risk being underutilized. Providers may be hesitant to adopt these technologies if payment remains uncertain or insufficient, stalling progress in advancing healthcare innovation.
CTeL is urging Congress to step in and support legislation that mandates reimbursement for remote monitoring services using the new CPT codes. Doing so would remove financial barriers, allowing patients to benefit from these transformative technologies.
“Remote monitoring isn’t just about convenience—it’s about saving lives and reducing the burden on our healthcare system”
“Remote monitoring isn’t just about convenience—it’s about saving lives and reducing the burden on our healthcare system,” said Christa Natoli, Executive Director of CTeL. “Congress must act to ensure patients and providers can fully leverage these tools for better care.”
As remote monitoring becomes a vital part of modern healthcare, its success hinges on forward-thinking policies. By passing legislation to support reimbursement for these services, Congress can enable the healthcare system to harness the full potential of RPM and RTM, improving patient outcomes and driving down costs for all stakeholders.
Harnessing AI to Revolutionize Healthcare
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the healthcare landscape, offering groundbreaking opportunities to improve efficiency, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and deliver personalized care. AI-powered tools are streamlining administrative tasks, reducing the paperwork burden on providers, and allowing clinicians to focus more on patient care. From automating appointment scheduling to assisting with complex medical imaging analyses, the technology is proving indispensable across healthcare settings.
Yet, as AI adoption accelerates, the need for a regulatory framework becomes increasingly urgent. This framework must ensure that the benefits of AI are equitably distributed while safeguarding patient safety and data privacy. CTeL supports the Bipartisan Senate AI Working Group’s recommendations as a starting point for establishing this foundation. These recommendations include:
Increased funding for cross-government AI research and development, fostering innovation and addressing critical challenges in AI integration.
Resources for AI testing and evaluation at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), including infrastructure for testing AI systems' reliability and safety.
A comprehensive review of federal statutes and regulations to identify and eliminate barriers to AI innovation, ensuring that companies of all sizes can contribute to this transformative field.
To demonstrate the real-world potential of AI in healthcare, CTeL is organizing an AI Technology Showcase at the U.S. Capitol on March 12, 2025. This event will bring together healthcare professionals and policymakers to witness cutting-edge AI applications in action, from tools that optimize hospital workflows to algorithms that identify early disease markers.
“We are at the cusp of an AI revolution in healthcare,” said Christa Natoli, Executive Director of CTeL. “But for AI to reach its full potential, we need a cohesive policy approach that supports innovation while protecting patients.”
The Road Ahead
CTeL’s agenda sets forth a transformative vision for the future of healthcare, combining telehealth, remote monitoring, and AI to create a system that is more accessible, cost-efficient, and outcome-driven. However, these advancements depend on decisive legislative action.
“Our priorities are clear,” Natoli emphasized. “We must act now to cut costs, deliver results, and drive American innovation in healthcare.”
“Our priorities are clear,” Natoli emphasized. “We must act now to cut costs, deliver results, and drive American innovation in healthcare.”
As the 119th Congress begins its session, the opportunity to solidify telehealth’s legacy, advance remote monitoring, and embrace AI’s potential is ripe. With bold action, Congress can lay the foundation for a healthcare system that leverages technology to meet the needs of all Americans.