Across 2025, the Alliance for Connected Care continued to be the leading national voice for virtual care, driving concrete policy wins, mobilizing Congress at critical moments, and protecting patient access across Medicare and the commercial markets.

In a year defined by policy uncertainty and high-stakes deadlines, the Alliance for Connected Care didn’t just respond – we led. By shaping legislation, defending patient access, and keeping telehealth front-and-center on Capitol Hill, the Alliance proved once again that when it comes to connected care, no organization delivers more impact.

Read the Alliance’s full recap here or below.

Unlocking Permanent Telehealth Access in the Commercial Market

The Alliance was a driving force in securing a policy victory that delivers long-term certainty for millions of Americans enrolled in high deductible health plans with health savings accounts (HDHP-HSAs). Years of Alliance advocacy to preserve pre-deductible telehealth access paved the way for permanent change, transforming a temporary flexibility into a durable solution. By removing a significant financial barrier to care, the Alliance empowered employers to confidently design benefits that expand affordable telehealth access for working families, particularly those in rural and underserved communities, without unnecessary out-of-pocket costs.

Securing Permanent CMS Policy for Billing from Provider Locations
The Alliance played a decisive role in making permanent a critical CMS policy that allows clinicians to bill for Medicare telehealth services using an enrolled practice location where they are capable of providing in-person care, even when the clinician is physically located elsewhere, such as their home. Without action, this flexibility was set to expire on December 31, 2025. When the policy was not addressed in the CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule, the Alliance intensified engagement with CMS, holding multiple discussions throughout the year and mobilizing stakeholders to underscore the real-world consequences for patient access. The Alliance will continue to work with CMS on a path that allows the same for virtual-only practitioners, particularly those without a physical practice location to report other than a home address.

Defending and Expanding Remote Patient Monitoring
The Alliance continued its leadership in protecting and strengthening Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), a cornerstone of modern, patient-centered care. Building on earlier successes securing Medicare coverage and appropriate payment for RPM services, the Alliance remained on the front lines in 2025 to defend RPM from disruptive policy changes that could have reduced access or undermined care delivery. Through sustained engagement, the Alliance engaged with CMS in conversations focused on meaningfully modernizing reimbursement to fully capture inputs of technology-enabled care like RPM.

Leading the Charge on Medicare Telehealth Extensions
When Medicare telehealth access faced expiration in March and September, the Alliance stepped up. Ahead of both the telehealth cliffs, the Alliance mobilized stakeholders, educated policymakers, and provided real-time leadership on Capitol Hill. The result: sustained congressional attention, retroactive payments, and a clear message that telehealth must remain a permanent part of Medicare.

Leading the Fight to Ensure Remote Access to Medication and Controlled Substances
The Alliance led efforts to protect access to medications via telemedicine, pressing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to establish a permanent framework for the prescribing of appropriate controlled substances via telemedicine, as directed by Congress. In 2025, the Alliance kept the pressure on, creating urgency for clarity about continued access to care and medications. The DEA published a fourth temporary extension, which provides a one-year extension through December 31, 2026.

Relentless Engagement with Federal Policymakers
In 2025, the Alliance delivered an unmatched advocacy footprint, engaging Congress through:

  • Dozens of formal comment letters, coalition letters, and statements for hearings;
  • Regular briefings and direct outreach to House and Senate offices;
  • Rapid-response advocacy prior to government funding deadlines.