IV
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1428
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 9, 2024
Mr. Carter of Georgia (for himself, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Curtis, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Thompson of California, and Ms. Blunt Rochester) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
RESOLUTION
Supporting the designation of the week of September 15, 2024, through September 21, 2024, as Telehealth Awareness Week
.
Whereas telehealth allows health care practitioners to provide services to patients or other practitioners in different physical locations;
Whereas telehealth significantly supported access to quality health care for millions during the COVID–19 public health emergency and remains essential postemergency;
Whereas, in 2023, nearly 7,000,000 unique Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries received at least 1 telehealth service, with one-quarter of Medicare FFS beneficiaries utilizing telehealth;
Whereas the number of Medicare FFS telehealth users in 2023 is 24 percent higher than in 2019, prepandemic;
Whereas the percentage of Medicare FFS beneficiaries using telehealth has remained relatively stable in 2023;
Whereas increased access to telehealth during the COVID–19 pandemic has positively shifted patients’ perceptions, with study findings indicating greater openness to using telehealth services;
Whereas telehealth now represents a critical component of health care delivery, balancing in-person and virtual care, following its unprecedented use during the public health emergency;
Whereas legislative efforts to increase telehealth access have garnered broad bicameral bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House of Representatives;
Whereas data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey and the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey indicate that individuals with disabilities are more likely to use audio-only services, with the highest usage among Medicare beneficiaries with multiple disabilities (41.8 percent);
Whereas the United States has the opportunity to improve broader access to health services for all individuals, including members of rural and underserved communities; and
Whereas Telehealth Awareness Week
, September 15, 2024, through September 21, 2024, unites the efforts of patients, caregivers, health care providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to advance the role of telehealth in health care: Now, therefore, be it
That the House of Representatives—
supports the designation of Telehealth Awareness Week
;
recognizes the impact of telehealth in delivering health care services to patients across the United States; and
urges that steps be taken—
to raise awareness about the benefits of expanding telehealth;
to highlight resources for health care providers and patients regarding telehealth;
to collect and analyze data on the impacts of telehealth; and
to promote continued access to telehealth for all communities and across settings permanently.