[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 152 (Thursday, September 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5007-S5008]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 902--SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF 
  SEPTEMBER 20 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 26, 2026, AS ``TELEHEALTH AWARENESS 
                                 WEEK''

  Mr. SCHATZ (for himself, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Warner, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. 
Welch, and Mr. Barrasso) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 902

       Whereas telehealth allows a health care practitioner to 
     furnish healthcare services to a patient or a practitioner at 
     a different physical location than the healthcare 
     practitioner;
       Whereas telehealth plays a significant role in supporting 
     access to quality healthcare services for millions of 
     patients;
       Whereas healthcare workforce shortages are a significant 
     problem in many areas and for many types of healthcare 
     clinicians;
       Whereas telehealth increases access to healthcare in areas 
     with workforce shortages and for individuals who live far 
     away from healthcare facilities, have limited mobility or 
     access to transportation, or have other barriers to accessing 
     care;
       Whereas, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the utilization of 
     telehealth services in the Medicare program under title XVIII 
     of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.)

[[Page S5008]]

     was low, accounting for approximately 0.1 percent of visits 
     of patients receiving healthcare services under Medicare part 
     B in 2019;
       Whereas 23 percent of Medicare beneficiaries received at 
     least 1 telehealth service in 2025;
       Whereas, in its 2025 survey of Medicare beneficiaries ages 
     65 and over, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission found 
     that more than 90 percent of Medicare beneficiaries who 
     received a telehealth service were satisfied with their 
     experience;
       Whereas, in 2025, telehealth was a routine healthcare 
     modality with nearly 11 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries 
     and more than 20 percent of dually eligible Medicare and 
     Medicaid beneficiaries using telehealth in the last quarter 
     of the calendar year;
       Whereas telehealth is a common care modality for Medicare 
     beneficiaries to receive behavioral health services, with as 
     of June 2024, 1 study finding that 44 percent of behavioral 
     health visits among traditional Medicare beneficiaries are 
     delivered by telehealth;
       Whereas federally qualified health centers and rural health 
     clinics use telehealth to deliver services to rural and 
     underserved populations;
       Whereas telehealth now represents a critical component of 
     healthcare delivery;
       Whereas any lapse in Medicare coverage for telehealth 
     services could adversely impact patient access to care;
       Whereas legislative efforts to increase telehealth access 
     have received bipartisan support in the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives;
       Whereas the United States has an opportunity to help 
     improve 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, healthcare providers, policymakers, and 
     other stakeholders to advance the role of telehealth in 
     healthcare: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of September 20 through September 
     26, 2026, as ``Telehealth Awareness Week'';
       (2) recognizes the impact of telehealth in delivering 
     healthcare services for patients across the United States; 
     and
       (3) urges that steps should be taken to--
       (A) raise awareness about the benefits of telehealth;
       (B) highlight resources for healthcare providers and 
     patients regarding telehealth;
       (C) collect and analyze data on the impacts of telehealth; 
     and
       (D) promote continuous access to telehealth for all 
     communities and across settings.

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