Title: A resolution supporting the designation of the week of September 19 through September 25, 2021, as "Telehealth Awareness Week".
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution supports the designation of September 19-September 25, 2021, as Telehealth Awareness Week.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 385 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 385

    Supporting the designation of the week of September 19 through 
         September 25, 2021, as ``Telehealth Awareness Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 23, 2021

Mr. Schatz (for himself, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Thune, Mr. Warner, 
  and Mrs. Hyde-Smith) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                        considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Supporting the designation of the week of September 19 through 
         September 25, 2021, as ``Telehealth Awareness Week''.

Whereas telehealth allows a health care practitioner to furnish health care 
        services to a patient or a practitioner at a different physical location 
        than the health care practitioner;
Whereas telehealth has played a significant role in supporting access to quality 
        health care services for millions of patients during the COVID-19 public 
        health emergency and will continue to be essential beyond the end of the 
        public health emergency;
Whereas following the unprecedented use of telehealth and virtual care services 
        in response to the public health emergency, telehealth now represents a 
        significant percent of care delivery, confirming the need to balance in-
        person and virtual care in the health care system;
Whereas telehealth and virtual care services continue to provide patients and 
        families with safe, appropriate, and high-quality care where and when 
        they need it, and 91 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are satisfied 
        with their telehealth experiences;
Whereas telehealth allows health care providers to securely connect with 
        patients wherever they are when an in-person interaction is not 
        clinically necessary or available and expands access to health care 
        services for patients in need of specialty care, enabling the health 
        care system to do more good for more people;
Whereas telehealth is a bipartisan issue and Members of Congress from both sides 
        of the political aisle and both sides of Capitol Hill are dedicated to 
        ensuring patients continue to have the choice to access telehealth once 
        the COVID-19 public health emergency ends;
Whereas the United States must help improve broader access to telehealth 
        services for all individuals, including members of rural and underserved 
        communities; and
Whereas ``Telehealth Awareness Week'' 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
    Resolved, That the Senate supports the designation of the week of 
September 19 through September 25, 2021, as ``Telehealth Awareness 
Week''.
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