H.Res. 686

119 HRES 686 IH: Supporting the designation of the week of September 14, 2025, through September 20, 2025, as “Telehealth Awareness Week”.
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-09-09
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 IV  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. RES. 686  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   September 9, 2025   Mr. Carter of Georgia  (for himself,  Ms. Matsui ,  Mr. Schweikert , and  Mr. Thompson of California ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the  Committee on Energy and Commerce    RESOLUTION
Supporting the designation of the week of September 14, 2025, through September 20, 2025, as  Telehealth Awareness Week .
Whereas telehealth allows health care practitioners to provide services to patients or other practitioners in different physical locations;
Whereas telehealth significantly supported access to quality health care for millions during the COVID–19 public health emergency and remains essential postemergency;
Whereas, in 2024, about 6,700,000 unique Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries received at least 1 telehealth service, with one-quarter of Medicare FFS beneficiaries utilizing telehealth;
Whereas the number of Medicare FFS telehealth users in 2024 is 24 percent higher than in 2019, prepandemic;
Whereas the percentage of Medicare FFS beneficiaries using telehealth has remained relatively stable in 2024;
Whereas increased access to telehealth over the past 5 years has positively shifted patients’ and providers’ perceptions, with study findings indicating greater openness to using telehealth services;
Whereas telehealth is now fully integrated into our health care system and patients’ care journeys, and it is essential that these flexibilities be preserved beyond September 30, 2025;
Whereas legislative efforts to increase telehealth access have garnered broad bicameral bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House of Representatives;
Whereas data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey and the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey indicate that individuals with disabilities are more likely to use audio-only services, with the highest usage among Medicare beneficiaries with multiple disabilities (41.8 percent);
Whereas the United States has the opportunity to improve broader access to health services for all individuals, including members of rural and underserved communities; and
Whereas  Telehealth Awareness Week , September 14, 2025, through September 20, 2025, 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
That the House of Representatives—
(1)
supports the designation of  Telehealth Awareness Week ;
(2)
recognizes the impact of telehealth in delivering health care services to patients across the United States; and
(3)
urges that steps be taken to—
(A)
continue the telehealth flexibilities beyond September 30, 2025;
(B)
raise awareness about the benefits of expanding telehealth;
(C)
highlight resources for health care providers and patients regarding telehealth;
(D)
collect and analyze data on the impacts of telehealth; and
(E)
promote continued access to telehealth for all communities and across settings permanently.