Alliance Statement for the Record to Senate Commerce Hearing on: “State of Telehealth: Removing Barriers to Access and Improving Patient Outcomes”

ALLIANCE FOR CONNECTED CARE STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD

“State of Telehealth: Removing Barriers to Access and Improving Patient Outcomes”

The Alliance submitted a letter to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Communications, Media, and Broadband Subcommittee on a hearing examining the importance of access to telehealth services, and the role that broadband plays in the public health response.

Our statement summarizes the following recommendations:

Congress should invest in efforts that support broadband affordability for patients and providers.
Congress must continue to coordinate with other federal agencies to ensure improvements are being made to our taxpayer-funded programs, and that all patients deserving of these benefits are being afforded access.
Congress must make permanent the Emergency Broadband Benefit program.
Congress must continue to address anticompetitive behaviors in all industries, and explore solutions that support patients.
Congress should invest in efforts that support the deployment of broadband for all Americans, including those living in rural areas, on Tribal lands and to our nation’s health care providers and centers.
Congress must maintain access to audio-only services for patients who, in the interim, continue to lack broadband access and/or affordability.
Congress should pass the Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Live Act (S. 198/H.R. 1218) in the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations package.
Congress should consider addressing antiquated licensure requirements that impeded access to care to address gaps in the delivery system and provide high-value care directly to consumers in rural or underserved areas.