The federal government officially shut down Oct. 1, and healthcare is once again caught in the middle of partisan gridlock. Healthcare Finance News recently reported that one of the most immediate threats to hospitals and patients is the expiration of key programs that support telehealth and hospital-at-home care. These programs, first expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, now serve as critical pillars of hospital operations nationwide.
The American Hospital Association has urged Congress to act quickly, noting that continuing the waivers and flexibilities supports hospitals in keep patients closer to home, expanding access to timely care, and reducing pressure on emergency departments.
Why Telehealth Cannot Wait
Telehealth is not a temporary fix. It has become a permanent, central component of modern healthcare, giving patients timely access to specialists and freeing hospital capacity. As Kyle Zebley of the American Telemedicine Association told Healthcare Finance News, “The shutdown is devastating for telehealth — and for an overburdened health system.”
Access TeleCare’s Perspective
Dr. Chris Gallagher, founder and chief strategy officer of Access TeleCare, emphasized both the scale and equity imperative of continuing telehealth in the Healthcare Finance News report:
“Beyond greatly improving access to care, telemedicine significantly increases health equity. To provide an idea of the scope of telehealth’s impact, more than 84% of the patients that we provide care for through our hospital and clinic partnerships are medically underserved and vulnerable. Many of these patients receiving acute specialty telemedicine live in rural areas and designated health professional shortage areas.”
The bottom line: any interruption in telehealth coverage jeopardizes care for the very patients who need it most.
What Hospitals Need Now
The healthcare system needs permanency: clear, consistent federal policy that ensures telehealth flexibilities remain in place long-term. Without it, patient access and outcomes, hospital stability, and community health all remain at risk.
At Access TeleCare, our message is simple: we aren’t stopping. The care goes on. Our specialists will continue delivering acute telemedicine across the country, supporting hospitals and protecting patients.
