Telemedicine Advocacy Group Buys Digital Therapeutics Alliance
ATA Action, the advocacy arm of the American Telemedicine Association, has acquired the Digital Therapeutics Alliance (DTA), an organization focused on expanding access to digital therapeutics (DTx).
The boards of directors of the ATA, ATA Action and DTA unanimously approved this transaction.
This new alliance said it will drive policy and advocacy about:
• Expanded Federal and State Legislative Resources ensuring appropriate reimbursement
• Expanded Regulatory Activity including FDA regulations
• Expanded Opportunities for Innovation creating new partnerships and business opportunities in the U.S. and around the world
• Improved Access to Evidence-based Digital Interventions assisting in the treatment, management and prevention of behavioral, mental, and physical diseases and disorders
“ATA Action is bringing together some of the most innovative minds in healthcare, committed to solving critical gaps in care delivery to redefine how patients receive care,” said Kyle Zebley, executive director, ATA Action and senior vice president, public policy at the ATA, in a statement. “Our goal is to create a unified voice to shape healthcare policies, ensuring that telehealth and digital therapeutics remain integral components of the U.S. healthcare system. We will continue to advance and expand our efforts to strengthen state and federal policy, ensuring that telehealth is established as a permanent and essential modality of care. And, with DTA’s expertise influencing policies affecting innovative technologies, we are expanding our advocacy efforts to support digital health tools such as digital therapeutics, digital diagnostics, remote monitoring devices and artificial intelligence.”
In a statement, Andy Molnar, CEO of DTA and a member of the FDA’s Digital Health Advisory Committee, stated, “We pursued this acquisition because of the obvious synergies between our organizations and how well that aligns with the trajectory of the market. Together, we are well-positioned to continue to lead policy and advocacy efforts that will remove the barriers and build the infrastructures to create permanent access to telehealth, broadly defined, and ensure that the global regulatory and reimbursement momentum continues for digital therapeutics, following a landmark year for the industry.”
As part of this transaction, Molnar will take on the role of head of digital health at ATA Action, where he will lead the new Advancing Digital Health Coalition, and serve as senior vice president of industry affairs at the ATA.
As part of this transaction, DTA members, their leadership team and staff, and established programs, resources and task groups are being integrated into ATA Action and the ATA, creating a stronger, unified community with greater impact across the healthcare spectrum.
ATA Action also announced its new Advancing Digital Health Coalition, focused on collaboration, influence, and leadership in digital health policy. This coalition will build upon the work of the DTA, ensuring continued advocacy for innovative technologies that transform patient care. Priority areas of focus include digital therapeutics, Prescription Drug Use Related Software (PDURS), Digital Mental Health Treatment (DMHT) Devices, and remote monitoring devices. The coalition will also expand into additional areas, such as AI, digital diagnostics, and devices that support care at home and will continue to be on the bleeding edge of advancement in healthcare as new technologies emerge.
