Federal Telehealth Advocacy

Information on the latest federal legislative proposals and bills related to telehealth.

Improving Patient Care Through Telehealth Access

Federal Legislative and Regulatory Initiatives

Telehealth Fact Sheet

[PDF] Fact Sheet: Telehealth

February 2019

AHA Testimonies and Public Comments

[PDF] Letter to the FCC on Promoting Telehealth in Rural Areas

February 2, 2018

AHA comments to the FCC on promoting telehealth in rural Areas

[PDF] Letter to the FCC on Rural Broadband Access for Health Care Providers

May 23, 2017

AHA responds to the FCC’s request for information for how to expand adoption and accessibility of broadband health care solutions, including in the FCC’s Rural Health Care (RHC) Program.

[PDF] AHA comments to Senate Finance Committee and CCWG on improving care for chronic conditions

January 26, 2016

AHA's comments to the Senate Finance Committee Chronic Care Working Group (CCWG) for improving care for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic health conditions including the expansion of telehealth, improvements to accountable care models, and policies to increase beneficiary engagement.
http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2016/160126-let-ccwg-chronic.pdf

[PDF] AHA to FCC: Comments on the Rural Health Care Program's Healthcare Connect Fund

January 12, 2016

AHA responds to the Wireline Competition Bureau's Public Notice seeking comment on the Schools Health and Libraries Broadband ( SHLB ) Coalition Petition requesting changes to the FCC's Rural Health Care ( RHC ) Program.
http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2016/160112-let-shlbpetition.pdf


[PDF] AHA to CMS Re: Methods for Assuring Access to Covered Medicaid Services

December 18, 2015

AHA comment letter regarding CMS's final rule with comment on methods for assuring access to covered Medicaid services.
http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2015/151218-cl-cms-2328fc-rin0938-aq54.pdf


[PDF] CMS Finalizes Mandatory Hip and Knee Bundled Payment Program for Many Hospitals

November 17, 2015

Late November 16, CMS finalized a new payment model that bundles payment to acute care hospitals for hip and knee replacement surgery -- the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model.
http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/bulletin/2015/151117-bulletin.pdf


[PDF] CMS Releases Two Final Rules for CY 2016: Hospital Outpatient/ASC Payment Systems and Physician Fee

November 2, 2015

On October 30, CMS released the calendar year 2016 outpatient prospective payment system /ambulatory surgical center final rule.
http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/bulletin/2015/151102-bulletin.pdf

[PDF] AHA Statement before House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee on Rural Health Care

July 28, 2015

AHA Statement before House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee on Rural Health Care
http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/testimony/2015/150728-statement-ruralhealth.pdf

[PDF] AHA's Feedback on Ways to Improve the Provision of Care for Medicare Beneficiaries

June 22, 2015

AHA letter to SFC Chronic Care Working Group regarding ways to improve the provision of care for Medicare Beneficiaries with chronic care conditions.
http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2015/150622-let-nickels.pdf

[PDF] To Aging Committee: Challenging the Status Quo: Solutions to the Hospital Observation Stay Crisis

May 20, 2015

Jyotirmaya Nanda, M.D., testifies on behalf of the AHA to the Senate's Special Committee on Aging on the increase in the use of observation stays.
http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/testimony/2015/150520-tes-agingcom-obsvstatus.pdf


[PDF] AHA Comments Re: 21st Century Cures Discussion Draft

May 12, 2015

AHA letter to Rep. Fred Upton regarding his 21st Century Cures Discussion Draft released April 30.
http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2015/150512-cl-21century.pdf

[PDF] AHA Statement on Rural Health

May 7, 2015

AHA statement on rural health.
http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/testimony/2015/150507-statement-rural-health.pdf

[PDF] AHA Statement on Advancing Telehealth through Connectivity

May 1, 2015

AHA statement before the Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet Subcommittee of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the U.S. Senate.
http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/testimony/2015/150501-tes-telehealth.pdf

[PDF] AHA to Rep. Fred Upton Re: Telehealth Discussion Draft

January 26, 2015

AHA letter to Representative Fred Upton regarding his discussion draft of legislation on Advancing Telehealth Opportunities in Medicare.
http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2015/150126-let-pollack-upton.pdf