FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT
Chris Adamec; cadamec@connectwithcare.org

Alliance for Connected Care Announces New Members and Leadership

WASHINGTON, D.C. February 13, 2024 – Today, the Alliance for Connected Care (“the Alliance”) welcomes several clinician and patient advocacy organizations to its membership, and a new Executive Director. During this critical policy year for telehealth and remote patient monitoring, it is essential to have a wide range of leading voices together in a coalition. With patients, hospital systems, physicians, nurses, technology innovators, retailers and health plans as members, the Alliance truly speaks with a cross-sector voice.

Additionally, Chris Adamec will take over as executive director of the Alliance, continuing to drive forward coalition advocacy to ensure patients have access to, and clinicians are reimbursed for virtual care. With more than 15 years of experience in Washington, and four years with the Alliance, Mr. Adamec has relationships across the stakeholder spectrum, in Congress, the Executive Branch and deeply understands the policy.

Founder, Krista Drobac, will continue to serve the Alliance through strategic guidance and thought leadership. “As the Alliance celebrates its 10-year anniversary, we have seen unprecedented progress in access to telehealth, and Chris is the best person to take this uniquely positioned group into the next chapter. Over the last four years, Chris has impressively led the Alliance’s advocacy on the Hill, the Administration, and with stakeholders. I am confident that the Alliance will grow and flourish in his capable hands,” said Krista Drobac, Founder of the Alliance for Connected Care.

Following are new Alliance for Connected Care members in 2024:

“I am thrilled to expand our membership with additional clinician specialty and patient advocacy voices, to enhance and elevate our work ensuring continued access to care provided through telehealth and remote patient monitoring,” said Chris Adamec, executive director of the Alliance. “Simple to access and simple to bill virtual care is key to our shared goals of expanding access to safe, high-quality health care.”

As telehealth and remote patient monitoring continues to be integrated into the standard of care, it is important to include the clinician perspective as they ensure patients receive safe, high-quality care using connected care technology. The Alliance is dedicated to creating a statutory and regulatory environment to ensure continued use of telehealth and remote patient monitoring.

Several new Alliance members offered comments on joining the Alliance:

“The PAN Foundation was part of the Alliance advisory board where we supported the Alliance’s efforts to push for policies that ensure continued access to telehealth services. Today, we are thrilled to join the Alliance as a member as we continue our efforts advocating for permanent telehealth polices, including audio-only services, to increase equitable access for all.” Amy Niles, Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer, PAN Foundation

“The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy was part of the Alliance advisory board. As an organization representing the professional interests of over 70,000 licensed marriage and family therapists, we are excited to join the Alliance as a member and support the mission for permanent access to virtual care for behavioral health providers and other clinicians.” Roger D. Smith, J.D., Chief Advocacy Officer & General Counsel, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

“Compassion & Choices proudly served on the Alliance advisory board to help address the need for permanent telehealth access for terminally ill patients. As the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization working to improve end-of-life care, we are eager to join the Alliance as a member to advocate for easier patient healthcare access through telehealth.” Bernadette Nunley, National Director of Policy, Compassion & Choices

“The Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW), which represents health payers who provide mental health and substance use disorder benefits to over 200 million people, is delighted to join the Alliance. We are especially looking forward to working with our Alliance partners on ensuring that buprenorphine can be prescribed through telehealth and eliminating the six-month in-person requirement for tele-mental health care.” Pamela Greenberg, President & CEO, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness

“The American Academy of Physician Associates, representing more than 168,000 PAs, is honored to be a part of the Alliance for Connected Care. PAs are driven by a commitment to expanding patient access to high-quality medical care, and telehealth is a powerful tool for ensuring more patients get the care they need, when they need it.” Tate Heuer, Vice President, Federal Advocacy, American Academy of Physician Associates 

###

The Alliance is dedicated to creating a statutory and regulatory environment in which patients can receive and providers can deliver safe, high-quality care using connected care technology. Our members are leading health care and technology organizations from across the spectrum, representing health providers and systems, health payers, technology innovators, and patient and clinician organizations who wish to better utilize the opportunities created by telehealth and remote patient monitoring. For more information, please visit https://www.connectwithcare.org.