Act Now: Tell Congress to Preserve Access to Health Services Through Telehealth and ACA Exchanges

Please take 2 minutes today to ask your members of Congress to support an extension of both the enhanced tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the current Medicare telehealth flexibilities.  They are essential to maintaining access to the complete spectrum of mental and behavioral health care. 

Reach out to Congress now! 

Your action matters! As psychologists who see patients in all stages of mental health challenges, you know the value of access to early and preventative services and crisis services alike. Access to private insurance is the primary means through which patients are able to afford these services, and newer modalities of treatment like telehealth are critical to preserving access to care for patients in rural and underserved areas who would otherwise be forced to travel several hours to the nearest clinic. Unfortunately, without prompt Congressional action, many could face steep hikes to their insurance premiums and those covered by Medicare would face unnecessary barriers to treatment via telehealth, including a requirement for patients to be periodically seen in person.

Asking Congress to extend both the enhanced ACA subsidies and the current Medicare telehealth coverage rules will make a difference by educating your Members of Congress on the urgent need to avert an unnecessary disruption in access to care. The enhanced tax credits enacted by Congress during the COVID-19 pandemic have been a lifeline for millions of Americans by making health insurance more affordable and accessible, enabling them to access the complete spectrum of life-saving mental health treatment.

Meanwhile, the recent expansion of telehealth has been a cornerstone in improving access to mental health care, especially for patients who face a variety of barriers to in-person care. Over the last several years, patients have shown high levels of satisfaction with telehealth, and telehealth is also associated with an improvement in clinical efficiencies. 

Unfortunately, the enhanced ACA tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year, and the current Medicare telehealth flexibilities expire at the end of September. Congress has an opportunity to prevent serious interruptions in care by acting before the end of the month, whether as part of a separate package of health care extenders legislation or as part of its work around the CY2026 budget. 

Please join our efforts to preserve access to care today! 

Act now!