Mar 28, 2025
CTeL Member Benefit: Telehealth Scoop
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CTeL Creates Legislative Tracker to Keep You Informed on Legislation
CTeL created a legislative tracker that will be updated in real time with legislation and its status introduced in the 119th Congress. This resource will be updated on a weekly basis for the benefit of our members. The document also includes leadership maps for the members of Congress serving on the House Ways and Means Committee, House Energy and Commerce Committee, Senate Finance Committee, and Senate HELP Committee. View CTeL’s Legislative Tracker HERE.
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Join us every week as we decode the complexities of healthcare regulations, share breaking news, and deliver actionable insights to keep you ahead of the curve. From Washington’s hottest debates to state-level trends and emerging tech, our expert hosts bring you concise, no-nonsense updates you can count on. Perfect for busy professionals who need to stay informed on the go. Tune in to navigate the ever-changing telehealth landscape with confidence!
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Want to be a guest? Email us at Lindsey@ctel.org!
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Join CTeL’s collective advocacy efforts by adding your organization to our sign-on letter urging Congress for a new telehealth score from CBO – the first step towards achieving a permanent Medicare telehealth expansion solution.
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CPT Editorial Panel published its agenda for the May 2025 meeting. Key items proposed include:
“Millions in US live in places where doctors don’t practice and telehealth doesn’t reach,” according to a new report from Kaiser Family Foundation. Nearly 3 million people live sicker and die earlier on average in more than 200 counties nationwide. These "dead zone" counties have three things in common: They lack access to high-speed and reliable internet, primary care providers, and behavioral health specialists.
Hospital at home companies DispatchHealth and Medically Home announced that they are merging, which they estimate will save 62,000 inpatient hospital stays per year and reduce costs by 30% per patient per month.
A newly-discovered vulnerability in ChatGPT is leading to cyberattacks on the healthcare industry, among other affected industries. Cybersecurity experts warn that vulnerable systems could be prone to data breaches, unauthorized transactions, and other risks. NIST ranks this as a medium-risk vulnerability.
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HHS employees that were fired by the Trump Administration’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce were reinstated by a federal court ruling, potentially affecting thousands of fired workers. This come as the agency prepares for another round of spending cuts and firings.
MedPAC published its annual report to Congress on the Medicare fee-for-service payment system. The committee, among other recommendations, urged Congress to replace the current Medicare payment rates for physicians with one that follows the projected Medicare Economic Index.
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Texas SB 2880 was introduced last week. The bill targets tech companies that provide abortion medication in the state and websites that share information about abortion pills.
North Carolina HB 434 was introduced to reform prior authorization. The bill creates new transparency requirements and mandates timely response to prior authorization requests.
Virginia HB 1642 passed the state legislature and is now on the governor’s desk for signature. The bill requires human oversight of AI used in courts.
Mississippi SB 2426, a bill to create an Artificial Intelligence Regulation Task Force, is also awaiting governor signature after passing the state legislature.
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Congress passed a continuing resolution funding the government through September 30, with a telehealth extension through the same date.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s pick to lead CMS, appeared before the Senate Finance Committee last week in a pre-confirmation hearing. He touted the use of AI to process prior authorization decisions and identify fraud, as well as the opportunities presented by telehealth.
“Even proponents of AI’s swift integration into medicine must recognize the deep paradox: this proposal emerges even as the FDA’s world-leading infrastructure for AI oversight faces dismantling,” says a new opinion piece in Nature responding to recently-introduced legislation that would open the door for AI prescribing of medication. “Congress should reject any legislation introducing AI-enabled autonomous prescribing unless it is accompanied by empowered, well-resourced regulatory oversight. The promise of AI in medicine is immense—but without strong safeguards, so are the risks,” the article concludes.
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As artificial intelligence continues to transform healthcare, so too do the risks associated with its misuse. From improper billing practices to AI-driven fraud schemes, regulators are paying close attention to how AI is being leveraged—and sometimes abused—in clinical and administrative settings.
Join CTeL for an in-depth discussion with Natalie Lorenz, Associate at Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville, as we examine:
 Emerging fraud and abuse concerns related to AI in healthcare
How bad actors exploit AI for improper billing and regulatory evasion
Government enforcement trends and what to expect in 2024
Best practices for healthcare organizations to mitigate AI-related compliance risks.
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