The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and ATA Action co-led a letter, along with the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), urging the Biden administration and the DEA to take action to ensure patients now remotely accessing clinically appropriate care do not have their access to care interrupted when the public health emergency ends – and before relevant regulations are finalized.

“With the unified voice of the undersigned organizations, all leaders in healthcare delivery, we are hopeful that the administration and the DEA will take notice – and most importantly, take action – to ensure patients are not left out in the cold,” said Kyle Zebley, senior vice president, public policy, the ATA, and executive director, ATA Action, in a statement. “Patients and providers need both a long-term solution, hopefully in the promulgation of the Special Registration for Telemedicine rules originally put forward by the DEA years ago, as well as a short-term solution until those rules are finalized.

“We believe it is equally important for Congress to maintain the current flexibilities on remote prescribing, to ensure there are no interruptions in the continuity of care. It’s for this reason that we included so many Congressional leaders on the letter, to remind them that our most vulnerable patients may face the telehealth cliff if swift actions are not taken to remove outdated restrictions to telehealth and virtual care services.”

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WASHINGTON, DC, NOVEMBER 11, 2022 – The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and ATA Action co-led a letter, along with the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), urging the Biden administration and the DEA to take action to ensure the vulnerable cohort of patients now remotely accessing clinically appropriate care do not have their access to care interrupted when the public health emergency ends – and before relevant regulations are finalized. The letter was also signed by 115 stakeholders.

“With the unified voice of the undersigned organizations, all leaders in healthcare delivery, we are hopeful that the administration and the DEA will take notice – and most importantly, take action – to ensure patients are not left out in the cold,” said Kyle Zebley, senior vice president, public policy, the ATA, and executive director, ATA Action. “Patients and providers need both a long-term solution, hopefully in the promulgation of the Special Registration for Telemedicine rules originally put forward by the DEA years ago, as well as a short-term solution until those rules are finalized.”

“We believe it is equally important for Congress to maintain the current flexibilities on remote prescribing, to ensure there are no interruptions in the continuity of care,” added Zebley. “It’s for this reason that we included so many Congressional leaders on the letter, to remind them that our most vulnerable patients may face the telehealth cliff if swift actions are not taken to remove outdated restrictions to telehealth and virtual care services.”

 To read a full copy of the stakeholder letter, please click here.

About ATA Action

ATA Action recognizes that telehealth and virtual care have the potential to transform the healthcare delivery system by improving patient outcomes, enhancing the safety and effectiveness of care, addressing health disparities, and reducing costs. ATA Action is a registered 501c6 company and an affiliated trade organization of the ATA.

About the ATA

As the only organization completely focused on advancing telehealth, the American Telemedicine Association is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and appropriate care when and where they need it, enabling the system to do more good for more people. The ATA represents a broad and inclusive member network of leading healthcare delivery systems, academic institutions, technology solution providers and payers, as well as partner organizations and alliances, working to advance industry adoption of telehealth, promote responsible policy, advocate for government and market normalization, and provide education and resources to help integrate virtual care into emerging value-based delivery models.

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