Organizations commit to organize and educate voters nationwide during fall elections

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 28, 2026 – A growing coalition of healthcare, technology, and patient advocacy organizations today launched the Telehealth Voters Pledge with the support of the Alliance for Connected Care.  The pledge marks a commitment to educating voters about the importance of permanent telehealth policy, and a challenge for other organizations to follow suit as the 2026 federal elections approach.

“Each federal election is a referendum on policy, and our voice must continue to be heard clearly,” said Chris Adamec, Executive Director of the Alliance for Connected Care. “This pledge will serve as the foundation for an ongoing, collaborative effort to support permanent telehealth policies and end the ongoing risk of America’s seniors losing access to care.”

Through avenues appropriate to each pledgee, leaders will commit to generate new momentum to replace temporary telehealth authorities with permanent policies that guarantee access for older adults across the nation. These actions include:

  • Cooperation and collaboration to ensure telehealth policies are raised in town halls, debates, public and private forums across the nation.
  • Engaging constituencies to provide education about the importance of telehealth policy and support individuals in their issue-oriented engagement with policymakers.
  • Sharing information valuable to the broader policy advocacy effort, including patient stories (and harmful effects of the 2025 lapse), data and clinical outcomes, and illustrative examples demonstrating the economic and societal value of telehealth.

As part of the broader movement, signing organizations will deliver this pledge to Congressional leaders in July 2026, join national media efforts, and collaborate with the full coalition on shared resources, talking points, and advocacy strategies. The pledge clarifies that these activities will be undertaken in a nonpartisan fashion, as part of a commitment to public education and civic engagement on a critical health policy issue.

“Permanent Medicare telehealth policy is essential to protecting access to timely, high-quality care for America’s seniors, and we are committed to educating voters and policymakers about the need to move beyond temporary extensions and create lasting statutory authority for telehealth in 2026” said Chad Ellimoottil, MD, MS, Medical Director of Virtual Care at University of Michigan Health.

“It is time for permanent Medicare telehealth policy that protects access for older adults across the U.S. and reduces uncertainty for patients and providers alike. I’m proud that CVS Health has supported these flexibilities since the pandemic – we see every day how virtual care can remove barriers to getting help. Our MinuteClinic virtual care services, including mental health support, make it easier for all patients to get the care they need in ways that fit their lives,” said Jon Thiboutot, President, Retail Health, CVS Health.

“Telehealth isn’t a convenience, it’s infrastructure. In skilled nursing and long-term care, virtual clinical access is often the difference between a resident being stabilized in their bed at 2 a.m. or being shipped to an ED for a condition that could have been managed on-site. Permanent telehealth access isn’t a partisan issue. It’s a basic question of whether we believe frail elders and rural Americans deserve the same standard of care as everyone else” said Mordy Eisenberg, Co-Founder of Tapestry Health.  “We are proud to stand with the Alliance for Connected Care in urging every candidate in 2026 to commit to making these protections permanent.”

“Nearly one in every four Americans, approximately 60 million people, experience a mental illness annually, and right now, there is only one mental health provider for every 340 people in the U.S.,” said ABHW President and CEO Debbie Witchey. “Allowing permanent Medicare telehealth services and repealing the mental health services in-person requirement will protect access to care and ensure individuals start or continue their care without disruption.”

“Compassion & Choices is committed to advocating for making Medicare telehealth coverage permanent, said Bernadette Nunley, Chief Legal Advocacy Officer. This access is important for ensuring that our constituencies are able to routinely check in with their clinicians without the burden of leaving home.  Telehealth has been shown to expand access to palliative care specialists, hospice consultations, and symptom management, which is especially important for folks at end-of-life.  Telehealth also makes the completion and periodic updating of advance care plans easier and therefore more likely.”

Learn more about how to join the pledge – and engage in this advocacy throughout 2026 at connectwithcare.org/pledge/