[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5230-S5231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 805--SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF 
   SEPTEMBER 18 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 24, 2022 AS ``TELEHEALTH AWARENESS 
                                 WEEK''

  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:

                              S. Res. 805

       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 more than 28,000,000 Medicare beneficiaries used 
     telehealth during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic;
       Whereas Medicare beneficiaries used 88 times more 
     telehealth services during the first year of the COVID-19 
     pandemic than they did in the prior year while the overall 
     use of health care services among such beneficiaries remained 
     relatively stable;
       Whereas, following the unprecedented use of telehealth and 
     virtual care services in response to the public health 
     emergency, telehealth now represents a critical component of 
     care delivery, demonstrating the need to balance in-person 
     and virtual care in the health care system;
       Whereas, in 2021, 91 percent of Medicare beneficiaries were 
     satisfied with their telehealth experiences;
       Whereas legislative efforts to increase telehealth access 
     have received bipartisan support in the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives;
       Whereas the United States has the opportunity to help 
     improve broader access to health 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--
       (1) supports the designation of the week of September 18 
     through September 24, 2022, as ``Telehealth Awareness Week'';
       (2) recognizes the impact of telehealth in delivering 
     health care services for patients across the United States; 
     and
       (3) urges that steps should be taken--
       (A) to raise awareness about the benefits of expanding 
     telehealth;
       (B) to highlight resources for health care providers and 
     patients regarding telehealth;
       (C) to collect and analyze data on the impacts of 
     telehealth; and

[[Page S5231]]

       (D) to promote continued access to telehealth for all 
     communities and across settings beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

                          ____________________