Can AI and Telehealth Fix What Healthcare Policy Hasn’t? American Telemedicine Association x SCALE Community

Summary

Telehealth, AI, and digital therapeutics are redefining American healthcare. The ATA leaders share insights on regulation, innovation, and the road ahead.

In this episode of Analyzing Healthcare, host Roy Bejarano sits down with Ann Mond Johnson, CEO of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), and Kyle Zebley, ATA’s Senior VP of Public Policy, to discuss how digital health is reshaping care delivery across the U.S. They explore the evolution of telehealth from early remote care to today’s AI-driven, data-enhanced platforms. The conversation dives deep into barriers to adoption—from outdated state regulations and the 1997 Medicare law to CMS reimbursement models—and what it will take to achieve true parity for digital care. From state-by-state advocacy to the global future of telemedicine, this episode offers an unfiltered look at the policies, players, and promise of healthcare’s digital revolution.

Title-Can AI and Telehealth Fix What Healthcare Policy Hasn’t? American Telemedicine Association x SCALE Community

What You’ll Learn

✅ The ATA’s mission and its role as the voice of U.S. digital health

✅ The policy and regulatory challenges limiting telehealth adoption

✅ How COVID-era flexibilities changed the trajectory of virtual care

✅ Why global collaboration may define the next phase of healthcare innovation

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Timestamps

• (00:00) – Intro | Meet Ann Mond Johnson & Kyle Zebley, ATA

• (01:20) – Inside the ATA: Mission, Members & Market Influence

• (03:30) – Evolution of Digital Health: From Telephones to AI

• (06:50) – Advocacy & ATA Action: Policy Work Across 50 States

• (09:20) – The Economics: Membership, Funding & Growth

• (17:00) – Digital Care vs. In-Person Care: Why Adoption Lags

• (21:00) – COVID’s Impact on Telehealth Expansion

• (30:00) – The 1997 Law That Still Restrains Telemedicine

• (34:00) – What Happens if the Waivers Expire?

• (37:00) – State Licensing Barriers & Push for Uniformity

• (42:00) – Global Digital Health: Opportunities & Challenges

• (44:00) – Signs of Optimism for the Future of Care

Key Takeaways

• ???? The ATA leads U.S. advocacy for telehealth and digital therapeutics.

• ???? Regulatory barriers—not technology—remain the greatest constraint.

• ???? COVID accelerated digital adoption but left policy gaps unresolved.

• ???? The next era of healthcare will merge local practice with global connectivity.

Resource Links

Guest: LinkedIn – Ann Mond Johnson | LinkedIn- Kyle Zebley

Host: LinkedIn – Roy Bejarano

Organization: www.scale-healthcare.com

Podcast Hub: Analyzing Healthcare by Scale Community

American Telemedicine Association – https://www.americantelemed.org | https://www.americantelemed.org/ata-action/

Guest Bio

Ann Mond Johnson is CEO of the American Telemedicine Association, leading efforts to integrate digital health into the core of U.S. healthcare delivery. With decades of experience in innovation, policy, and healthcare transformation, Ann is recognized as one of the most influential advocates for accessible, technology-driven care.

Kyle Zebley is SVP of Public Policy and Executive Director of ATA Action, where he drives the organization’s advocacy across all 50 states and on Capitol Hill. His work has helped modernize telehealth laws, protect digital access, and shape national debates on healthcare modernization.

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