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Union Calendar No. 519 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6033 

[Report No. 118–621] 

To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a 

task force to improve access to health care information technology for 

non-English speakers. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 24, 2023 

Mrs. STEEL (for herself, Mr. GOMEZ, Mr. CISCOMANI, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. 

CA ́RDENAS, Ms. DE LA CRUZ, Mrs. KIM of California, Mr. CUELLAR, Ms. 

CHU, Mr. PANETTA, Mr. VALADAO, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. CARBAJAL, Ms. 

LEE of Nevada, and Ms. SEWELL) introduced the following bill 

OCTOBER 25, 2023 

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

JULY 30, 2024 

Additional sponsors: Mr. MULLIN, Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ, Ms. CARAVEO, 

Ms. PETTERSEN, Mr. TRONE, Ms. PINGREE, Mr. LAWLER, Ms. NORTON, 

Ms. LEE of Florida, Mr. KILMER, Ms. BALINT, Mr. PHILLIPS, Ms. 

BARRAGA ́N, Mr. BILIRAKIS, and Mr. SOTO

JULY 30, 2024 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on October 25, 2023] 


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•HR 6033 RH

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services 

to establish a task force to improve access to health 

care information technology for non-English speakers. 


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•HR 6033 RH

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Supporting Patient 

5 Education And Knowledge Act of 2024’’ or the ‘‘SPEAK 

6 Act of 2024’’. 

7 SEC. 2. GUIDANCE ON FURNISHING SERVICES VIA TELE8 HEALTH TO INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED 

9 ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

11 of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Health and 

12 Human Services, in consultation with 1 or more entities 

13 from each of the categories described in paragraphs (1) 

14 through (7) of subsection (b), shall issue and disseminate, 

15 or update and revise as applicable, guidance for the entities 

16 described in such subsection on the following: 

17 (1) Best practices on facilitating and integrating 

18 use of interpreters during a telemedicine appoint19 ment. 

20 (2) Best practices on providing accessible in21 structions on how to access telecommunications sys22 tems (as such term is used for purposes of section 

23 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

24 1395m(m)) for individuals with limited English pro25 ficiency. 


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1 (3) Best practices on improving access to digital 

2 patient portals for individuals with limited English 

3 proficiency. 

4 (4) Best practices on integrating the use of video 

5 platforms that enable multi-person video calls fur6 nished via a telecommunications system for purposes 

7 of providing interpretation during a telemedicine ap8 pointment for an individual with limited English 

9 proficiency. 

10 (5) Best practices for providing patient mate11 rials, communications, and instructions in multiple 

12 languages, including text message appointment re13 minders and prescription information. 

14 (b) ENTITIES DESCRIBED.—For purposes of subsection 

15 (a), an entity described in this subsection is an entity in 

16 1 or more of the following categories: 

17 (1) Health information technology service pro18 viders, including— 

19 (A) electronic medical record companies; 

20 (B) remote patient monitoring companies; 

21 and 

22 (C) telehealth or mobile health vendors and 

23 companies. 

24 (2) Health care providers, including— 

25 (A) physicians; and 


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1 (B) hospitals. 

2 (3) Health insurers. 

3 (4) Language service companies. 

4 (5) Interpreter or translator professional associa5 tions. 

6 (6) Health and language services quality certifi7 cation organizations. 

8 (7) Patient and consumer advocates, including 

9 such advocates that work with individuals with lim10 ited English proficiency. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 519 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6033 

[Report No. 118–621] 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Health and Human 

non-English speakers. cess to health care information technology for Services to establish a task force to improve acJULY 30, 2024 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS