Cassidy, Moore unveil bill to expand access to digital health services

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and U.S. Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) introduced bicameral, bipartisan legislation last week that would simplify patients’ access to digital health, making it simpler for Medicare enrollees to book medical appointments online. 

“The last thing a sick patient needs is a barrier when trying to book a medical appointment,” Sen. Cassidy said. “As a doctor, I am a firm believer that we should use the technology available to us to make accessing health care simpler.”

Sen. Cassidy sponsored the Health Accelerating Consumer’s Care by Expediting Self-Scheduling Act, also known as the “Health ACCESS Act,” S. 3744, on Feb. 7 along with U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA). Rep. Moore introduced the companion bill, H.R. 7292, on the same day in the U.S. House with Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL). 

Demand for digital health services has risen since the COVID-19 pandemic. The new legislation, if enacted, would provide regulatory certainty for digital health services and allow patients to search for and book health care appointments online while protecting their personal health information.

“The Health ACCESS Act will increase patients’ access to care by enhancing digital health platforms and allowing patients to better find health care services and schedule appointments,” Rep. Moore said. 

In an effort to make access to care more user-friendly, the legislation would modify the Anti-Kickback Statute to remove regulatory ambiguity and allow digital health and appointment booking platforms to work together to better serve patients, a bill summary said.

“By modernizing our existing regulatory framework, we can bolster innovation in the health care marketplace and ultimately reduce barriers to care,” Rep. Moore said.

Organizations that support the Health ACCESS Act include the Chronic Care Policy Alliance, Boston Medical Center, Corewell Health, and Indiana University Health.