Press Releases
Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz Co-Sponsors Bill to Expand Virtual Healthcare to Rural Texans
WASHINGTON,
February 15, 2024
Tags:
Healthcare
Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) recently joined a bipartisan group of representatives to introduce H.R. 7149, the Equal Access to Specialty Care Everywhere Act (EASE). This legislation is just one of many bipartisan healthcare access bills co-sponsored by De La Cruz in the 118th Congress. The EASE Act proposes utilizing existing funds from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation fund to pilot a virtual specialty network to deliver various virtual healthcare options. These include clinical decision support, eConsults, and telehealth collaborating with primary care providers in underserved and rural areas like Texas, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, and Community Health Clinics. Given the ongoing shortage of specialists, this legislation seeks to enhance patient access to specialty care services such as cardiology, neurology, and endocrinology, particularly for managing conditions like diabetes and chronic heart disease. Furthermore, it aims to mitigate wait times, reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, and enhance care coordination for beneficiaries of Medicare and Medicaid. "I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the EASE Act, which I believe is a significant step toward improving healthcare access and quality in Texas and across America,” said De La Cruz. “The EASE Act is a crucial piece of legislation that seeks to leverage virtual modalities, including telehealth, to expand patient access to life-saving specialty healthcare. In today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, it is essential that we ensure all our constituents have access to the specialized medical services they need, regardless of their location or circumstances. It aligns with our shared goal of making healthcare more accessible, efficient, and patient-centered. I thank Rep. Michelle Steel and our bipartisan co-sponsors for their work on this issue, and I look forward to this bill's passage." Other healthcare access bills introduced and co-sponsored by Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz since January 2023 include:
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