WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced the reintroduction of the bipartisan Knowing the Efficiency and Efficacy of Permanent (KEEP) Telehealth Options Act. This legislation, introduced alongside Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), would require the federal government to study the actions taken to expand access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic and report on how to extend those services beyond the pandemic.
“The devastating health impacts of COVID-19 have underscored the need for reliable and accessible telehealth services,” said Senator Rosen. “Unfortunately, telehealth services remain difficult to obtain and access for far too many communities, especially in our rural areas. I’m proud to partner with Senator Fischer in reintroducing this bipartisan legislation to help expand and improve telehealth services to protect the health and well-being of families in Nevada and across the nation.”
“Millions of Americans, including many Nebraskans, have benefited from telehealth services during this pandemic,” said Senator Fischer. “This bipartisan legislation will provide us with valuable information on how to improve and expand this technology to save more lives.”
BACKGROUND: The KEEP Telehealth Options Act would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and produce a public report on the actions taken to expand access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the legislation would require a report to Congress on the efficiencies, management, successes, and failures of the expansion of telehealth services during this public health emergency. These studies could then be used by Congress to support and inform the future of telehealth.
Rosen and Fischer originally introduced the KEEP Telehealth Options Act in July 2020.
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