Epilepsy Alliance America is a proud to stand with more than 200 health care organizations in this effort to protect Telehealth Access.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2026

Patients, clinicians, and health system leaders join Members of Congress on Capitol Hill to call for permanent Medicare telehealth access

Patients, clinicians, and healthcare leaders today delivered the Telehealth Voters Pledge to Members of Congress at a Capitol Hill event hosted by the Alliance for Connected Care. The pledge, signed by more than 200 health care organizations, clinicians, and patient advocacy groups, calls on Congress to end the cycle of short-term extensions and enact permanent Medicare telehealth coverage.

Current telehealth flexibilities are set to expire December 31, 2027. A previous lapse in coverage in 2025 disrupted care for patients across the country, causing a gap organizers say Congress cannot afford to repeat. Today’s event, sponsored by Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA), brought together congressional and healthcare leaders to speak to the urgent need for permanent access and to outline new commitments to build momentum ahead of a fall legislative push. Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV) joined as a featured speaker, underscoring the bipartisan support behind the pledge.

“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,” said Chris Adamec, Executive Director of the Alliance for Connected Care. “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.”

Other speakers at today’s event included:

• Chris Adamec, MPA — Executive Director, Alliance for Connected Care
• Chidinma Chima-Melton, MD, MBA, FCCP, ATSF —Ambulatory Medical Director of Virtual Care, Ascension
• Valerie Fuller, PhD, DNP — President, American Association of Nurse Practitioners
• Barry Arbuckle, PhD — Executive Chairman, MemorialCare
• Nathan Baugh — Executive Director, National Association of Rural Health Clinics
• Heidi McIntosh, MSW — Chief Operating Officer, National Association of Social Workers
• Clara Keane — Senior Policy Director, Healthcare Leadership Council

Coalition leaders and pledge signatories are committing to:

• Raise the urgency of permanent telehealth policy in town halls, debates, and public and private forums through the fall

• Educate members, patients, and constituencies about the risks and challenges created by the current cycle of short-term Medicare telehealth extensions

• Share patient stories, clinical data, and economic evidence that make the case for permanent coverage
• Collaborate across the coalition on shared resources, talking points, and advocacy strategy heading into a fall legislative push

These activities are strictly nonpartisan and focused solely on the policy merits of permanent Medicare telehealth coverage. The coalition includes patient advocacy organizations, clinician associations, hospitals and health systems, and technology companies spanning the health care spectrum.

“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.,” said Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW) President and CEO Debbie Witchey. “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.”

“Compassion & Choices is committed to advocating for making Medicare telehealth coverage permanent,” said Bernadette Nunley, Chief Legal Advocacy Officer. “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 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.”

“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. 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,” said Jon Thiboutot, President of Retail Health at CVS Health.

“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” said Mordy Eisenberg, Co-Founder of Tapestry Health. “We are proud to stand with the Alliance for Connected Care in urging every candidate in 2026 to commit to making these protections permanent.”

“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” said Chad Ellimoottil, MD, MS, Medical Director of Virtual Care at University of Michigan Health.

“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,” said the Healthcare Leadership Council.

“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,” says NASW Chief Operating Officer, Heidi McIntosh, MSW.

Learn more about the Telehealth Voters Pledge and the growing coalition working to make permanent Medicare telehealth a national priority at connectwithcare.org/pledge.

“At Young Adults with Epilepsy (YAWE), we strongly support the Telehealth Voters Pledge 2026 because access to care should never depend on geography, transportation, or a person’s ability to safely travel.

“For many young adults living with epilepsy and other neurological conditions, telehealth has been life-changing. The inability to drive is one of the most significant yet overlooked barriers facing people with epilepsy. Studies show that many individuals with epilepsy either temporarily lose driving privileges or are unable to drive due to ongoing seizure activity, with research suggesting only about 25–40% of people with epilepsy actively drive depending on seizure control and severity.

“Telehealth has allowed young adults to connect with neurologists, mental health providers, peer support programs, and follow-up care in ways that reduce stress, missed appointments, financial burden, and health risks. For those who cannot drive due to seizures, telehealth is not simply a convenience — it is a critical lifeline.

“We have seen firsthand how virtual access improves continuity of care, supports mental health, empowers independence, and helps families stay connected to essential resources. This is especially important for underserved and rural communities where specialty epilepsy care may be hours away. The CDC also notes that adults with epilepsy often delay care because of transportation barriers.

“YAWE believes telehealth must remain protected, expanded, and accessible for the millions of Americans living with chronic neurological conditions. We are proud to support the Telehealth Voters Pledge 2026 and advocate for policies that prioritize equitable, patient-centered healthcare access for all.”

“South Carolina Advocates For Epilepsy (S.A.F.E.) is proud to join the Telehealth Voters Movement in support of expanding access to quality healthcare through telehealth. For many people living with epilepsy, driving is not an option due to uncontrolled seizures or state driving restrictions, making access to specialized medical care especially challenging. Telehealth helps remove transportation barriers, reduces missed appointments, and connects patients with neurologists and epilepsy specialists without the burden of traveling long distances. We believe telehealth is a vital tool for improving health outcomes and ensuring equitable access to care for the epilepsy community.”