Supporting the designation of the week of September 14, 2025, through September 20, 2025, as "Telehealth Awareness Week".
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 686
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-09: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-23T17:33:24Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 686) aims to express support for designating the week of September 14 through 20, 2025, as "Telehealth Awareness Week." It highlights the role of telehealth—remote delivery of health care services via technology—in improving access to care, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, and calls for ongoing efforts to expand and preserve its use.
Key Provisions
- Supports the designation: The House of Representatives endorses "Telehealth Awareness Week" to unite patients, caregivers, providers, policymakers, and others in promoting telehealth.
- Recognizes telehealth's impact: Acknowledges how telehealth enabled care during the pandemic, its growth (e.g., 24% increase in Medicare users from 2019 to 2024, with 6.7 million beneficiaries using it in 2024), and benefits for rural, underserved, and disabled populations, including high use of audio-only services (41.8% among Medicare beneficiaries with multiple disabilities).
- Urges specific actions:
- Extend telehealth flexibilities (temporary rules easing restrictions) beyond September 30, 2025.
- Increase public awareness of telehealth benefits.
- Promote resources for providers and patients on using telehealth.
- Gather and study data on telehealth's effects.
- Ensure permanent access to telehealth for all communities and care settings.
- Notes broad bipartisan support in Congress for related legislation.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no changes to existing laws or regulations. It expresses congressional intent and encourages future legislative action to make telehealth expansions permanent, but does not amend statutes like those governing Medicare or pandemic-era flexibilities.
Potential Impacts
- On citizens: Could improve health care access for millions, particularly Medicare beneficiaries (one-quarter use telehealth), rural residents, underserved groups, and people with disabilities, by raising awareness and pushing for sustained remote care options.
- On government agencies: May prompt agencies like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to analyze telehealth data and extend temporary rules, influencing federal health policy without direct mandates.
- On international relations: No direct impact, as the resolution focuses on domestic U.S. health care.
- Overall, it fosters a cultural shift toward integrating telehealth into everyday care, potentially reducing barriers like travel for in-person visits.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Patients and caregivers: Benefit from greater awareness and access to remote services.
- Health care providers: Gain support for tools to deliver care across distances, including audio-only options.
- Medicare beneficiaries: Directly referenced, with emphasis on their high usage and need for continued flexibilities.
- Rural and underserved communities: Highlighted for improved equity in health services.
- People with disabilities: Noted for relying heavily on telehealth, especially audio formats.
- Policymakers and Congress: Encouraged to act on bipartisan efforts to preserve and expand telehealth.
- Health organizations and advocates: Involved in awareness campaigns during the designated week.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces the need to transition pandemic-era telehealth rules (e.g., relaxed licensing and reimbursement) into permanent law, potentially influencing ongoing bills in Congress. No new enforceable requirements are created.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's role in regulating interstate commerce and health policy under the Commerce Clause, without raising separation-of-powers issues.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan consensus (introduced by members from both parties) on health access, signaling momentum for future legislation. It promotes public education without controversy, emphasizing equity and post-pandemic recovery.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-09: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-09-09: Submitted in House
- 2025-09-09: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Supporting the designation of the week of September 14, 2025, through September 20, 2025, as "Telehealth Awareness Week". — issued 2025-09-09 — PDF (3 pages)