ATA Commends Congress for Issuing Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution Designating September 19-25 As Telehealth Awareness Week
More than 65 Congressional Leaders from both Chambers are Supporting Telehealth Awareness
WASHINGTON, DC, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 – The American Telemedicine Association (ATA), the premier organization working to accelerate the adoption of telehealth, today commended Congress for issuing a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing September 19-25, 2021, as Telehealth Awareness Week. The resolution was introduced by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ben Cardin (D-MD), John Thune (R-SD), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and by U.S. Representatives John Curtis (R-UT), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Bill Johnson (R-OH). This legislative action is a positive step toward Congress advancing ATA’s top policy priorities and provides further evidence of the broad consensus and support of telehealth.
More than 65 members of Congress, representing 34 states have signed on as Policy Champions of the inaugural Telehealth Awareness Week, a national platform engaging healthcare organizations, telehealth service providers, patient advocacy groups, policymakers and stakeholders at every level to support the advancement of telehealth as a quality care option for all Americans.
“This is a significant demonstration of support from policymakers on both sides of the aisle and from both chambers, for making access to telehealth services a permanent part of healthcare delivery in our country,” said Ann Mond Johnson, CEO of the ATA. “Our Telehealth Awareness Week Policy Champions have played a critical role in helping to expand access to virtual care for all Americans during the COVID-19 public health emergency and beyond. We are proud to celebrate their achievements as we work together to advance a future of care delivery that ensures all patients have access safe, quality healthcare services whenever and wherever they need them.”
A number of states, including Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming have also issued proclamations recognizing September 19-25, 2021, as Telehealth Awareness Week, highlighting the central role telehealth now plays in care delivery.
Read the Senate and House resolutions.
About the ATA
As the only organization completely focused on advancing telehealth, the American Telemedicine Association is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and appropriate care when and where they need it, enabling the system to do more good for more people. The ATA represents a broad and inclusive member network of leading healthcare delivery systems, academic institutions, technology solution providers and payers, as well as partner organizations and alliances, working to advance industry adoption of telehealth, promote responsible policy, advocate for government and market normalization, and provide education and resources to help integrate virtual care into emerging value-based delivery models. @americantelemed #telehealthishealth #ATApolicy
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