CTeL Urges Trump Transition Team to Expand Telehealth, Combat Drug Overdose Crisis, and Drive Health Innovation
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.
"The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the extraordinary potential of telehealth to break down barriers to care," Natoli asserts. "Now is the time to ensure these gains are not rolled back but expanded to benefit all Americans."
CTeL’s recommendations include eliminating outdated restrictions on telehealth services, leveraging remote monitoring to combat chronic disease, and using telemedicine to address the opioid crisis. The organization also advocates for advancements in AI to ensure healthcare remains innovative and equitable. By cementing these gains and embracing new opportunities, the Trump Administration can transform healthcare to deliver on the promise of accessibility, efficiency, and innovation for all Americans.
“The Trump Administration has a unique opportunity to transform American healthcare,” said Christa Natoli, CTeL’s Executive Director. “By embracing innovative digital health solutions, we can expand access to care, streamline healthcare delivery, and reduce costs for patients and taxpayers alike. Our goal is to support an environment where telehealth, remote monitoring, and AI can be fully leveraged to improve healthcare outcomes for all Americans.”
“The Trump Administration has a unique opportunity to transform American healthcare,” said Christa Natoli, CTeL’s Executive Director.
Strengthening Access: “Medicare Must Continue Leading the Charge”
“The COVID-19 pandemic showed us what’s possible when we remove barriers to care,” writes Natoli. For millions of seniors and patients in rural communities, temporary Medicare flexibilities have been transformative. These waivers, including the removal of originating site restrictions, allowed patients to access care from their homes, often for the first time.
CTeL’s letter highlights the tremendous progress made in telehealth policy during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the elimination of originating site restrictions, expansion of reimbursement eligibility, and inclusion of telehealth in high-deductible health plans. These steps allowed millions of Americans to access care remotely, especially seniors and those in rural communities, who face barriers to in-person healthcare.
Research conducted by CTeL demonstrated substantial cost savings resulting from these changes. For example, CTeL’s 2021 report found that expanded telehealth access saved Medicare over $33 million in Florida alone for patients with certain conditions. Despite these clear benefits, telehealth flexibilities are set to expire on December 31, 2024, potentially reversing much of the progress made.
CTeL urges the Trump Administration to work with Congress on a permanent waiver of these restrictions and to expand telehealth-eligible providers under Medicare. "These policies have proven effective, and we believe they should be made permanent," Natoli stated. "This is a critical opportunity to ensure that seniors and rural communities continue to benefit from telehealth services."
CTeL advocates for making these flexibilities permanent, specifically calling on the administration to:
Eliminate originating site restrictions: These antiquated policies limit telehealth services to specific rural locations and facility types. Removing them permanently would provide millions of seniors and underserved patients with continued access to care.
Expand provider eligibility for telehealth: Allowing more healthcare professionals, including physical therapists and oral health providers, to deliver care virtually can enhance preventive care and reduce the need for costly interventions.
CTeL’s research supports these recommendations. A 2021 analysis found that telehealth generated significant cost savings for Medicare, including $33 million in Florida alone for patients with neoplasms. “These savings are not hypothetical—they’re real, measurable, and replicable,” Natoli stresses.
A Lifeline in the Opioid Crisis: Sustainable Telemedicine Policies
In 2023, drug overdose deaths fell by 10%—a glimmer of hope in an otherwise devastating public health crisis. Much of this progress, CTeL notes, can be attributed to telehealth-enabled access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT). “When people can get the care they need without jumping through bureaucratic hoops, lives are saved,” Natoli asserts.
Telehealth has been a lifeline for individuals struggling with addiction, particularly as COVID-19 disrupted traditional healthcare services. The ability to receive medication-assisted treatment (MAT) via telemedicine has improved treatment adherence and lowered the risk of overdose—a key factor in the recent decrease in drug overdose deaths.
However, temporary waivers that enable telemedicine for MAT are not long-term solutions. CTeL recommends that the Trump Administration prioritize a permanent telemedicine registration rule through the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to ensure continuity of care for individuals in recovery. Additionally, CTeL is conducting ongoing research on drug diversion risks associated with telemedicine to provide evidence-based recommendations that balance access and safety.
"Telemedicine has the power to save lives, and a permanent framework is essential to maintaining the progress we’ve made in addressing the opioid crisis," Natoli emphasized.
CTeL calls on the administration to:
Issue a telemedicine special registration rule: The DEA has delayed action on this critical regulation, leaving providers and patients in limbo. A permanent rule is essential to ensuring consistent access to MAT.
Strengthen diversion controls: While telehealth offers unprecedented access to care, concerns about medication misuse must be addressed through robust safeguards. CTeL is currently studying patterns of medication diversion in telehealth, with findings expected in early 2025.
"Temporary waivers are a start, but we need durable, long-term solutions," says Natoli. "This isn’t just a policy issue—it’s a matter of life and death."
Leveraging Technology for Chronic Care and Beyond
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) have revolutionized chronic disease management. These technologies allow healthcare providers to track patients’ health in real-time using wearable devices like blood pressure monitors and glucose sensors. RPM and RTM enable earlier interventions, reduce hospitalizations, and cut costs, particularly for patients managing chronic conditions.
CTeL encourages the Trump Administration to support HHS Inspector General recommendations that prevent fraud in remote monitoring and help ensure that its benefits are fully realized. CTeL also advocates for CMS to implement new billing codes for remote monitoring that will provide a more comprehensive range of options for patients and providers.
“Remote monitoring is transforming patient care by allowing providers to proactively address health issues, which ultimately lowers costs and improves outcomes,” Natoli noted. “We believe it is time for the Administration to take concrete steps to support this technology.”
“We believe it is time for the Administration to take concrete steps to support this technology.”- Christa Natoli, Executive Director of CTeL
CTeL’s letter highlights specific actions to unlock the full potential of remote monitoring, including:
Implementing new CPT codes for short-term monitoring periods: These codes, approved in September 2024, expand RPM eligibility to patients who require fewer than 16 days of monitoring per month. CMS must set payment rates to ensure these services are accessible.
Tackling fraud: Recent reports from the HHS Office of Inspector General underscore the need for stricter oversight of remote monitoring claims. CTeL supports targeted fraud prevention measures, such as provider education and data tracking requirements.
Beyond chronic care, CTeL emphasizes RPM’s potential in addiction recovery. Emerging technologies, such as wearable devices that predict opioid cravings, could prevent overdoses and save lives. “This is innovation at its best—saving lives and cutting costs,” Natoli notes.
The Frontier of Health AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare has the potential to revolutionize diagnostics, disease management, and patient care. To foster innovation, CTeL recommends that CMS expand reimbursement for AI-powered healthcare services. CTeL’s AI Blue Ribbon Collaborative, composed of legal, medical, and scientific experts, is already conducting research on health AI standards and reimbursement, providing insights to support evidence-based policy.
CTeL also emphasizes the importance of transparency in health AI technology. “Health AI model cards can serve as a type of ‘nutrition label’ for AI, showing what goes into a model and how it uses patient data,” Natoli explained. “These cards will help bridge the gap between developers and healthcare providers, encouraging responsible and effective AI implementation.”
To drive innovation, CTeL recommends:
Expanding reimbursement for AI-enabled services: CMS currently reimburses only a limited number of AI applications. Expanding this list would incentivize providers to adopt these cutting-edge tools.
Promoting AI transparency through model cards: These “nutrition labels” for AI systems would help providers and policymakers better understand how AI tools function and their intended uses.
Encouraging innovation showcases: CTeL’s upcoming AI Technology Showcase on Capitol Hill will highlight real-world applications of health AI, from diagnostic tools to personalized treatment plans.
“Health AI isn’t a far-off concept—it’s here, and it’s changing lives,” says Natoli. “But its success depends on clear policies that promote both innovation and accountability.”
In March 2025, CTeL will host an AI technology showcase on Capitol Hill to demonstrate the potential of AI-driven healthcare solutions. Administration officials are invited to attend and learn more about the real-world applications of health AI.Health AI stands poised to transform care delivery, but policy must keep pace with technology. Through its AI Blue Ribbon Collaborative, CTeL is already working with legal, medical, and scientific experts to address key challenges in AI implementation.
Moving Forward: Advancing a Patient-Centered, Cost-Effective Healthcare Agenda
CTeL’s recommendations to the Trump Transition Team reflect a bold vision for the future of American healthcare, one that prioritizes access, efficiency, and innovation. By making permanent the gains in telehealth and remote monitoring, combating the opioid crisis with telemedicine, and supporting advancements in AI, the Trump Administration can shape a healthcare system that meets the needs of all Americans.
“The groundwork has been laid, but the work is far from over,” Natoli writes.
By prioritizing telehealth, remote monitoring, and health AI, the administration can cement its legacy as a leader in healthcare transformation. As CTeL’s research and advocacy make clear, the stakes—and the opportunities—have never been greater.
“CTeL stands ready to support the Administration in these efforts,” Natoli concluded. “Together, we can create a healthcare system that is more accessible, affordable, and innovative, ultimately benefiting patients and providers alike.”