Tuberville and Britt join colleagues pushing for telehealth access

April 3, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues including Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) in reintroducing the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act. This legislation would expand telehealth services under Medicare, and make COVID-19-related telehealth flexibilities permanent. Sponsors believe that this will improve health outcomes, and make it easier for patients to connect with their health care providers. In 2024, more than half of American patients utilized telehealth services, highlighting the importance of expanded access to this form of care.

Sen. Tuberville cosponsored this legislation in both the 118th and 117th Congresses.

"As Alabamians fought the pandemic, telehealth services provided a lifeline by bringing doctors and nurses into homes in rural communities, increasing access to medical care and ultimately saving lives," said Sen. Tuberville. "Telehealth services should reflect the cutting-edge technologies being developed in America today. Many Alabamians rely on these services, and it is important Congress works to enable access to quality care for EVERY American, no matter their zip code-this legislation would make sure that is true."

Senators Tuberville and Britt were joined by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Boozman (R-AR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cyndy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jim Justice (R-WV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), James Lankford (R-OK), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (R-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Thune (R-SD), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Todd Young (R-IN) in cosponsoring this legislation.

The CONNECT Act was frst introduced in 2016. It remains the most comprehensive telehealth legislation in Congress. Several provisions of the bill have since been enacted into law or adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), particularly in response to the COVID pandemic. These include provisions to remove restrictions on telehealth services for mental health, stroke care, and home dialysis.

The 119th Congress version of the CONNECT for Health Act would build on this progress, including new and revised provisions designed to expand access to telehealth. Specifically, the legislation would:

Permanently define originating sites as the location of the patient

Permanently allow health centers and rural health clinics to provide telehealth services

Expand eligibility for health care professionals to use telehealth services

Remove unnecessary in-person visit requirements for telemental health services

Allow for the waiver of telehealth restrictions during public health emergencies

Require more published data to understand how telehealth is being used, its impact on quality of care, and how it can be improved to support patients and healthcare providers

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.