The Future of Healthcare is Now: Why You Can’t Afford to Miss the CTeL Digital Health Summit
The clock is ticking on telehealth’s future. As we stand on the precipice of a potential "telehealth cliff," the decisions made in the coming months will reverberate through the healthcare landscape for years to come. Next week, the Center for Telehealth & e-Health Law (CTeL) is convening the brightest minds in digital health to navigate this critical juncture at the Spring 2025 CTeL Digital Health Summit. This is more than just a conference; it's a vital forum for shaping the policies and practices that will define the future of patient care.
The past few years have been a crucible for digital health. The pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual care at an unprecedented rate, demonstrating its immense potential to improve access, efficiency, and patient outcomes. However, many of the regulatory flexibilities that made this revolution possible are temporary. We are now facing a critical “telehealth cliff,” where the expiration of these waivers could drastically curtail access to essential virtual care services for millions of Americans.
This is where the CTeL Digital Health Summit becomes absolutely essential. It’s a convergence of policymakers, legal experts, and industry leaders who are at the forefront of the fight to secure a permanent and robust future for telehealth.
A Glimpse into the Future: A Powerhouse Agenda
The summit's agenda is a masterclass in the most pressing issues facing digital health today. Here are just a few of the can't-miss sessions:
The Big Picture: The summit kicks off with a powerful keynote on the National Security Requirements of AI Integration into Digital Health Platforms, featuring insights from Michael McLaughin of Buchanan and Dr. Andrew Taylor from the University of Virginia. This is immediately followed by a Congressional Address from The Honorable Congressman Troy Balderson (R-OH), offering a direct line of sight into the legislative landscape.
Policy and the Purse Strings: A pivotal Congressional Policy Panel will tackle the crucial issue of getting telehealth's value officially recognized through a CBO score. With insights from congressional staffers Alex Deriso and Colleen Ngyuen, this session will delve into the data and advocacy needed to make the economic case for virtual care. Following this, the Telehealth Cost Impact panel, featuring experts like Adam Block of Charm Economics and Asha Saavoss from the Congressional Budget Office, will explore the nuanced financial implications of telehealth, from billing patterns to diagnostic coding.
Navigating the Legal Labyrinth: As innovation outpaces regulation, the legal and ethical considerations are paramount. Sessions like "AI and Malpractice: Are We Prepared for the Legal Revolution?" and "Emergency Care at a Crossroads: Shield Laws vs. EMTALA" will provide crucial guidance. Experts from Arthur Gallager Risk Management Services, Beazley, and leading law firms will dissect the evolving landscape of liability and patient protection.
The Business of Innovation: From the impact of The Trump Tariffs on Digital Health to a frank discussion with journalists on how digital health news is made, the summit offers a holistic view of the ecosystem. The Telehealth Fraud Panel will provide critical insights into enforcement mechanisms, while the Regulatory Considerations in AI Prescribing session will bring together representatives from state medical boards and the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to discuss the future of automated prescribing.
A Focus on the Future: The second day continues the high-level discourse with sessions on AI Accreditation, strategies for working with Congress on tariff exemptions, and a forward-looking analysis of digital health reimbursement. The summit will also address the critical issue of Medicaid cuts and their impact on hospital telehealth programs, a topic of immense importance for equitable access to care.
Why This Summit, Why Now?
The current policy landscape is a complex tapestry of expiring public health emergency (PHE) waivers and new legislative proposals. Key pieces of legislation are being debated in Congress that will determine the fate of telehealth reimbursement, cross-state licensure, and the prescription of controlled substances via telehealth. Organizations like the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are actively developing new rules that will shape the future of virtual care.
CTeL has consistently been at the heart of these conversations, providing a non-partisan platform for education, advocacy, and collaboration. Their work is instrumental in ensuring that the voice of the digital health community is heard in the halls of power. This summit is a manifestation of that vital role, offering attendees an unparalleled opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge, network with key stakeholders, and contribute to the solutions that will carry us beyond the telehealth cliff.
This is not the time to be a spectator. The future of your organization and the patients you serve is being decided now. Join the conversation, gain the insights, and be part of the solution.
CTeL extends a special thank you to Nixon Peabody for their generous support as a premium sponsor of the Spring 2025 Digital Health Summit. Their commitment to advancing digital health is a testament to their leadership in the field.