[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6033 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6033


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 18, 2024

     Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 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.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Patient Education And 
Knowledge Act of 2024'' or the ``SPEAK Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. GUIDANCE ON FURNISHING SERVICES VIA TELEHEALTH TO INDIVIDUALS 
              WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
in consultation with 1 or more entities from each of the categories 
described in paragraphs (1) through (7) of subsection (b), shall issue 
and disseminate, or update and revise as applicable, guidance for the 
entities described in such subsection on the following:
            (1) Best practices on facilitating and integrating use of 
        interpreters during a telemedicine appointment.
            (2) Best practices on providing accessible instructions on 
        how to access telecommunications systems (as such term is used 
        for purposes of section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1395m(m)) for individuals with limited English 
        proficiency.
            (3) Best practices on improving access to digital patient 
        portals for individuals with limited English proficiency.
            (4) Best practices on integrating the use of video 
        platforms that enable multi-person video calls furnished via a 
        telecommunications system for purposes of providing 
        interpretation during a telemedicine appointment for an 
        individual with limited English proficiency.
            (5) Best practices for providing patient materials, 
        communications, and instructions in multiple languages, 
        including text message appointment reminders and prescription 
        information.
    (b) Entities Described.--For purposes of subsection (a), an entity 
described in this subsection is an entity in 1 or more of the following 
categories:
            (1) Health information technology service providers, 
        including--
                    (A) electronic medical record companies;
                    (B) remote patient monitoring companies; and
                    (C) telehealth or mobile health vendors and 
                companies.
            (2) Health care providers, including--
                    (A) physicians; and
                    (B) hospitals.
            (3) Health insurers.
            (4) Language service companies.
            (5) Interpreter or translator professional associations.
            (6) Health and language services quality certification 
        organizations.
            (7) Patient and consumer advocates, including such 
        advocates that work with individuals with limited English 
        proficiency.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 17, 2024.

            Attest:

                                             KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

                                                                 Clerk.