Members of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) have elected Kristi Henderson to be chair-elect.
Henderson, who is set to take charge of the Washington-based group in May 2022, is the senior vice president of telehealth and innovation at OptumHealth, an arm of UnitedHealth Group Inc.
UnitedHealth is one of the biggest health insurers in the United States. Optum Health alumni played a critical role in helping the U.S. federal government set up the current Affordable Care Act health care system framework.
Many public and private health insurers, including Medicare and Medicaid, introduced dramatic increases in telehealth services coverage and provider reimbursement rates in response to the upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Telehealth services providers are now facing the prospect of tough battles with Medicare program managers, Medicaid program managers and commercial health insurers as they seek to make the new telehealth coverage and reimbursement rate policies permanent.
Henderson has served on the ATA board since December 2020.
