Expanding Patient Access to Care No Matter Where They May Be

While telehealth use has skyrocketed these last few years, our laws have not kept up. Telehealth is helping people in every part of the country get the care they need, and it’s here to stay.” That statement from Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, perfectly sums up why one of the most important steps forward for patient care in recent years must be preserved. Sen. Schatz is among a bipartisan group of 60 senators supporting the CONNECT for Health Act of 2023 (S. 2016/H.R. 4189), legislation that will expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make permanent COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities, improve health outcomes and make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors. As the pandemic made clear, there is no doubt that the ability of patients — especially people living in rural or underserved areas — to consult and connect virtually with caregivers without the necessity of in-person visits has been a revolutionary development in health care delivery.