WASHINGTON, DC, JANUARY 22, 2026 – ATA Action, the affiliated policy and legislative advocacy arm of the American Telemedicine Association, commented on today’s vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the multi-bill FY26 funding package released by the House Appropriations Committee earlier this week. This bill contains several important telehealth provisions, and includes legislation related to Labor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, Defense, and Transportation legislation.
“The U.S. House stood tall today for telehealth, passing legislation in the minibus package with broad bipartisan support, which includes years-long extensions for several critical telehealth provisions. Telehealth has proven it’s a valuable, relied-upon, and trusted option for healthcare delivery. Confirming these extensions is the right thing to do, and we trust that our telehealth champions in both chambers will continue to do the right thing to preserve access to care for millions of Americans needing care, including our most vulnerable and underserved populations,” said Alexis Apple, deputy executive director, ATA Action and vice president of federal affairs at the ATA. “These extensions transcend partisan divisions, and we are hopeful that the major winter storm forecasted for this weekend will not impede a prompt Senate vote required to advance this urgent bill to President Trump for signature.
“While these extensions are an important step forward, ATA Action continues to emphasize the need for long-term certainty and permanency. Telehealth flexibilities were originally put in place under President Trump’s leadership, working with a bipartisan Congress,” added Apple. “We look forward to continuing to work with President Trump and leaders in both parties to build on that foundation and deliver durable, permanent telehealth policy that provides patients, clinicians, and health systems the certainty they need.”
About ATA Action
Founded in 2022, ATA Action is the leading advocacy organization dedicated to advancing policy and accelerating the adoption of technology-enabled healthcare. Working collaboratively with federal and state legislators and policymakers, ATA Action drives industry momentum by influencing legislative and regulatory developments in telehealth, virtual care, remote patient monitoring, artificial intelligence in health, health data privacy, private sector healthcare investment, and more.
Representing a diverse membership – including hospital systems, technology companies, professional associations, direct-to-consumer digital health providers, payers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, digital therapeutics developers, and remote monitoring organizations – ATA Action facilitates member-led coalitions focused on initiatives such as Advancing Digital Health and Prescription Drug Use-Related Software (PDURS), Virtual Foodcare, and Cross State Care.
ATA Action is a registered 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade organization engaged in lobbying efforts to shape industry-related legislation and serves as an affiliated trade association of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA). The ATA, a 501(c)(3) entity, is recognized for its leadership in advancing innovation and leading transformation in virtual care, digital health, hybrid care, artificial intelligence, and next generation connected care.