Telehealth on hold: An easy way to get involved now

Politics and public policy is not a spectator sport. Advocates must led their elected leaders know how telehealth policies can help patients — and how they may be hurt by expired flexibilities in rules and payment. Kyle Zebley, senior vice president, public policy of the American Telemedicine Association, and executive director of ATA Action, its advocacy affiliate, explains more.

Medical Economics: ATA has created a grassroots advocacy tool for physicians, patients or anyone to express their support for telehealth programs. Is that still online? And can you explain how people can access that?

Kyle Zebley: It sure is online. It's readily accessible via the various ATA newsletters that ATA members have access to, and it's something that is critical for the American people to get involved. It's a very simple tool that we continue to update as appropriate, including since the shutdown of these services. It's an easy way for you to send a written communication to your congressperson and your representative, as well as your two senators. It's a way that you could send a written communication. It's a way that also could very easily, readily connect you via phone to call direct to get those two senators and your member of Congress. You know, often have said to folks that you know politics and public policy is not a spectator sport, particularly if you care, particularly if you're fighting for yourself or your loved ones to continue these needed services. You got to get off the sidelines. You got to play ball and that means making sure that your elected representatives, your congressional delegations, hearing from you, and that your message is clear. The shutdown of these services, of the acute hospital care at home program is unacceptable. It is hurting people now. It's hurting people worse and worse with every hour and every day that goes by without these flexibilities and this program being back into effect. And so it's a great way to get involved.