The Arizona Telemedicine Program Blog

The 2026 policy landscape signals a shift toward "tele-permanence" with the bipartisan FY26 funding package extending Medicare telehealth flexibilities through 2027 and the Hospital-at-Home program through 2030. Key updates include the permanent status of most telehealth codes and more flexible Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) options, such as new device supply codes for shorter 2–15 day collection periods and a 10–19 minute treatment management code. With FQHC/RHC billing via G2025 extended through 2026 and expanded support for behavioral health, CMS is establishing virtual care as a cornerstone of high-quality rehabilitation.

In January 2026, as rural healthcare continues to face challenges like geographic isolation, provider shortages, and limited infrastructure, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program stands out as a pivotal initiative. This $50 billion effort awards funds to all 50 states to bolster rural health systems, with a strong emphasis on innovative capabilities like telemedicine and telehealth.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) “Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP),” notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), published September 15, 2025, provides States with an historic funding opportunity that seeks to help them transform healthcare delivery for their rural residents.

As a second-year medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, I’ve been fortunate to interact with patients early in my training. Yet the experiences that left the deepest impact weren’t from structured classroom activities. They came from the time I chose to spend at the Crisis Response Center (CRC) at Banner University South, a 24-hour stabilization center for youth experiencing mental health crises.

Sitting in on patient interviews, I witnessed the wide range of stories and struggles that bring children and adolescents to the CRC. Despite their differences, one theme stood out: the lack of continuity in behavioral healthcare, especially for those in foster care. Given my research on telehealth since 2020, I kept asking myself, could telehealth be part of the solution?

We had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Amit Algotar, MD, PhD, MPH, FOMA, FACPM who leads a telehealth-based lifestyle weight loss clinic at Banner University Medical Center South. His innovative approach focuses on using lifestyle modifications as a primary treatment modality for managing and preventing chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even certain cancers. In this Q&A, Dr. Algotar shares the philosophy behind his work, the impact he’s seeing, and how telehealth is helping him reach more patients.