WASHINGTON—ATA Action, the advocacy arm of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), has acquired the Digital Therapeutics Alliance (DTA), an international organization focused on expanding access to digital therapeutics.
Officials said the combined organization will create a strong platform for policy and advocacy, focused on advancing innovative technologies that are transforming patient care. The Boards of Directors of the ATA, ATA Action and DTA unanimously approved this transaction.
“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,” said Kyle Zebley, executive director of ATA Action and senior vice president of public policy at the ATA. “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.”
Andy Molnar, CEO of DTA, said the organization pursued the acquisition because of "obvious synergies." He 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.
DTA has an established relationship with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and longstanding influence with regulatory agencies in Europe and Asia. ATA Action has successfully advocated for positive telehealth legislation at federal and state levels of government.
"Together, they form a more inclusive and effective advocacy organization, ensuring telehealth and digital health, broadly defined, become permanent options held to the same standards as other care delivery modalities," the combined organization said in a news release.
“Telehealth and digital health innovation are evolving rapidly with increased reliance on technology-enabled care. We look forward to collaborating with DTA members, building on our success in helping stakeholders understand the value and impact of technology-enabled care, and advancing the adoption of these modalities,” said Ann Mond Johnson, CEO of the ATA. “Our expanded efforts will boost educational initiatives and convenings, leverage more resources and support our shared mission to better serve our members and the broader digital health community.”
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. ATA Action also announced its new Advancing Digital Health Coalition, focused on advocacy for innovative technologies that transform patient care, including remote monitoring devices.