Medicare Telehealth Waivers and Acute Hospital Care at Home Program Set to Run Out on January 30, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC, JANUARY 6, 2026 – With just over three weeks remaining until the Medicare telehealth waivers and Acute Hospital Care at Home Program are set to expire on January 30, 2026, ATA Action, the affiliated policy and legislative advocacy arm of the American Telemedicine Association, is once again urging Congress to act swiftly and sensibly to avoid another lapse in telehealth services.
“With only a handful of days left, time is running out for Congress to send legislation to President Trump for signature, extending essential telehealth and digital health services for the Medicare population, as well as for the millions of Americans in rural and urban communities and those with chronic and acute conditions who have come to rely on these virtual care solutions,” said Alexis Apple, deputy executive director, ATA Action and vice president of federal affairs at the ATA. “We realize that Congress is returning to Washington with a number of pressing issues to address, right out of the gate. However, extending these telehealth waivers, originally put in place by President Trump during his first term in office, should be a slam dunk.
“Congress and the Administration have demonstrated longstanding bipartisan leadership and historic support for telehealth over the past six years, and the American people and their healthcare providers have embraced these tech-enabled solutions, which have proven to be lifesaving strategies for extending care delivery to patients everywhere,” Apple added. “We are counting on our government champions to find a permanent solution or at least to establish a long-term extension for these telehealth waivers. ATA Action, on behalf of our expanding membership, will continue to work closely with these decision-makers to end this cycle of uncertainty and firmly establish hybrid care as a cornerstone of healthcare delivery for the future.”
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.