WASHINGTON, DC (October 30, 2019): Health Innovation Alliance (HIA) today endorsed the bipartisan, bicameral CONNECT for Health Act, introduced by Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), John Thune (R-SD), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS).



This legislation will continue to bring our health care system into the 21stcentury by removing barriers to state-of-the-art patient care through telehealth services including:

• Removing certain geographic restrictions for emergency and mental health services;

• Improving the process HHS uses to determine coverage of future telehealth services; and

• Allowing the Secretary the ability to waive any restrictions on telehealth services during a national emergency or natural disaster; among other provisions.

“Patients receive their care today in an antiquated delivery system that needs to be modernized to reflect the tremendous advancements in technology,” said Health Innovation Alliance Executive Director Joel White. “Health Innovation Alliance believes telehealth is key to achieving this goal, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Congressional Telehealth Caucus to move the CONNECT for Health Act forward.”

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About Health Innovation Alliance:

HIA is an organization of patient groups, provider organizations, employers, insurers, and startup innovators committed to transforming healthcare. The Health Innovation Alliance exists to improve healthcare by advancing healthcare connectivity, unlocking the abundance of useful data in our healthcare system, modernizing data privacy, and fundamentally redefining care delivery. Learn more at Health-Innovation.org