Telehealth Access for America Names Executive Director as Campaign Continues to Expand, Ramp-Up in Critical Year for Virtual Care

Campaign Adds Seven New Members, Grows to 27 Member Organizations, as Health Care Leaders Demonstrate Broad-Based Unity on the Value of Telehealth for Consumers

Washington, D.C. – Telehealth Access for America (TAFA) announced Tuesday Alyene “Alye” Mlinar has been named the campaign’s executive director. The addition of an executive director reflects TAFA’s continued growth as a leading advocate for permanent telehealth policy solutions and commitment to ramping-up the campaign’s impact in a critical, make-or-break year for access to virtual care.

“I’m incredibly excited to work with Telehealth Access for America, and the campaign’s broad-based membership of health care leaders, to protect access to virtual care for consumers, especially seniors, without onerous restrictions,” said Mlinar. “Policymakers in Washington must make the commonsense flexibilities first extended during the pandemic permanent and offer providers and patients the clarity and peace of mind needed to unlock the full potential of virtual care.”

“As another government funding package moves into the rear-view mirror, the urgency for Congress to make virtual care a priority and avert a potential telehealth cliff for millions of patients is greater than ever,” Mlinar added. “Lawmakers must capitalize on overwhelmingly bipartisan support for telehealth by advancing permanent reform before flexibilities expire at the end of 2024.”

Mlinar is a health policy expert with more than a dozen years of experience working in both the House and Senate and think tanks in Washington. She is a principal with Mehlman Consulting, one of the most respected bipartisan advocacy and government relations firms in Washington, and previously served as a policy advisor to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), covering all health policy and tax issues.

In her role as executive director, Mlinar will serve as a strategic advisor for TAFA, guide the campaign’s approach with invaluable intelligence on the state of play for telehealth, and advance the campaign’s mission as an experienced, expert voice on health care issues.

The addition of an executive director comes as the campaign continues to grow. TAFA is now supported by 27 member organizations, with seven new members onboarded to the campaign in the last two months. Recently added members of the campaign include, The Epilepsy Foundation, International Hyperhidrosis Society, Lupus Foundation of America, National Association for Continence, National Celiac Association, National Eczema Association and The National Grange.

The newest members add to the campaign’s existing broad-based and diverse membership of health care leaders committed to permanent solutions to safeguard access to telehealth, including AARP, The American Hospital Association, American Heart Association, Ascension, Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), AiArthritis, Arthritis Foundation, Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, Catholic Health Association of the United States, Eating Disorders Coalition, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Teladoc Health and others.

Learn more about how Congress can act to permanently protect telehealth access HERE.

ABOUT TELEHEALTH ACCESS FOR AMERICA

Telehealth Access for America (TAFA) is a public education campaign supported by leaders in health care committed to better care, expanded patient choice, and protecting access to critical telehealth services. Learn more at www.telehealthaccessforamerica.org.