Healthcare (Telehealth) in United States

in committee · United States · Senate May 14, 2026

SRES 732: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that over 25 years of real-world evidence and hundreds of peer-reviewed studies proving that mifepristone is safe and effective should be respected, and law and policy governing access to lifesaving, time-sensitive medication abortion care in the United States should be equitable, transparent, and based on the best available peer-reviewed evidence-based science.

This Senate resolution expresses the non-binding opinion that federal laws regarding medication abortion should rely on scientific evidence rather than political influence. It specifically calls for the FDA to maintain its approval of mifepristone, a drug proven safe and effective over 25 years, and to allow patients to access it through telemedicine or mail-order pharmacies. The measure highlights that current restrictions disproportionately harm marginalized communities, including people of color, low-income individuals, and those in rural areas. By stating these points, the resolution aims to encourage policymakers to ensure equitable and transparent access to abortion care based on medical consensus.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Telehealth Women's Health

in committee · United States · House Apr 16, 2026

HR 8319: KIDNEY Remote Monitoring Act

The KIDNEY Remote Monitoring Act (H.R. 8319) aims to ensure Medicare payment for remote physiologic monitoring services provided to individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who receive home dialysis. The bill amends the Social Security Act to direct that these monitoring services, when furnished by a physician, will be paid for under Medicare Part B. This change would take effect for services provided on or after January 1, 2028, aligning their payment with the standard fee schedule for physician services.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Medicare Telehealth

in committee · United States · House Apr 15, 2026

HR 8317: Tech to Save Moms Act

The Tech to Save Moms Act aims to improve maternal health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals by increasing access to technology-enabled care. It allows states to adopt and use telehealth tools under Medicaid for screening, monitoring, and managing health complications during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum. The bill also establishes two grant programs: one to fund technology-enabled collaborative learning models for training maternal healthcare providers, especially in underserved areas, and another to increase access to digital tools that reduce maternal health disparities. Finally, it directs the National Academies to study the use of technology and patient monitoring devices in maternity care, focusing on racial and ethnic biases.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Medicaid Telehealth Women's Health

in committee · United States · House Apr 14, 2026

HR 8261: Chronic Care Management Improvement Act of 2026

HR 8261, the Chronic Care Management Improvement Act of 2026, aims to reduce healthcare costs for Medicare Part B beneficiaries receiving chronic care management services. Effective January 1, 2027, the bill mandates that Medicare will cover 100% of the cost for these specific services. This means individuals will no longer be responsible for any copayments or deductibles for chronic care management. The change directly affects Medicare Part B enrollees who utilize these services, making them more affordable by eliminating out-of-pocket costs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Medicare Telehealth

in committee · United States · House Mar 27, 2026

HR 8145: Expanding Access to Distance Learning and Telemedicine Act

This bill expands the scope of federal programs supporting rural areas to include cybersecurity support, digital literacy, workforce development, and job training alongside existing telemedicine and distance learning services. It amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to update the section heading and modify multiple subsections to explicitly incorporate these new categories of assistance. The changes apply to programs that provide technical support and educational resources to rural communities, with an effective date set for six months after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Telehealth Workforce Development Broadband Access Cybersecurity Tags Agriculture Rural Communities

in committee · United States · House Feb 9, 2026

HR 7444: Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act

This bill expands Medicare telehealth access for rural and underserved communities by removing geographic restrictions on where telehealth services can originate and allowing more services to be provided from patients' homes. It enables critical access hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and rural health clinics to receive full reimbursement for telehealth services and permits audio-only technology for certain appointments starting in 2027. The legislation also establishes permanent payment rates for telehealth services provided by these facilities and requires a review of audio-only technology use within five years to assess its impact on access and clinical appropriateness.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Medicare Mental Health Telehealth Tags Rural Communities

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 25, 2026

S 4204: Rural Health Innovation Act of 2026

This bill creates two new grant programs to support health services in rural areas. The first program provides funding to rural health centers and clinics to establish or maintain facilities that offer urgent care, triage services, and emergency transport coordination, with grants ranging from $500,000 to $750,000 over five years. The second program offers annual grants of up to $500,000 to local rural health departments to enhance their ability to provide emergency services, primary care, and other medical support at existing facilities. Both programs require entities to submit detailed applications and prioritize existing health centers, while authorizing $25 million annually from 2027 to 2031 for these initiatives.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals Primary Care Telehealth Tags Rural Communities

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 10, 2026

S 4037: Diabetes Act

This bill, known as the DIABETES Act, aims to improve Medicare coverage for diabetes technology and education services. It would require Medicare to continue covering diabetes devices like continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps when beneficiaries enroll in the program, preventing loss of access during enrollment transitions. The legislation also expands coverage for diabetes self-management training services, removes deductibles for these services, and authorizes virtual training options. Additionally, it directs the government to study barriers to diabetes care access and establish new billing codes for insulin pump training services.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Medicare Prescription Drugs Telehealth

in committee · United States · House Apr 3, 2026

HR 8149: Agricultural Access to Addiction and Mental Health Care Act

This bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study examining how accessible addiction and mental health care providers and services are for farmers and ranchers facing challenges like drought, extreme weather, market instability, and consumer misinformation. The study will investigate rural availability of trained providers, barriers such as financial and geographic obstacles, and successful state and local programs that could be expanded federally. It also explores options like funding for therapy sessions through existing networks and enhancing telehealth services in rural areas. The results will be reported to Congress within 180 days, with up to $1 million authorized annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to support the study.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse Telehealth Tags Agriculture Rural Communities

in committee · United States · Senate Dec 11, 2025

S 3466: Honor Our Promise to Veterans Act of 2025

The Honor Our Promise to Veterans Act of 2025 improves veterans' access to care by requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to schedule non-urgent appointments within seven days and urgent appointments within 48 hours of a veteran's request. The bill establishes an MST Aware rating program for community care providers who complete specific training on military sexual trauma and women veterans' care, and mandates regular reporting on appointment wait times and provider quality. It also creates new educational programs like "Start and Stay at VA" to recruit and retain healthcare staff, along with requirements for transparent staffing data and improved capital asset management for VA facilities. The legislation includes detailed reporting requirements for VA infrastructure projects and aims to enhance the overall quality and efficiency of veterans' healthcare services.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Hospitals Telehealth Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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