WC Wisconsin News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Derrick Van Orden, together with Reps. Greg Murphy, M.D., Michael Burgess, and Troy Nehls, has introduced a bill aimed at permanently expanding access to telehealth services for rural America. The legislation focuses on extending telehealth services for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs).

Van Orden emphasized the importance of telehealth in bridging the healthcare gap between rural and urban communities, stating, “Rural communities, like those in Wisconsin’s Third District, are routinely left on the sidelines when it comes to accessible health care." He added, "Expanding telehealth access is an important step in bridging the gap between rural and urban communities and helps ensure that folks, no matter where they are, can receive safe, quality care."

Congressman Murphy, drawing from his 25 years of medical practice in rural eastern North Carolina, highlighted the challenges rural patients face in accessing healthcare. He stressed the critical role of telehealth services for those living far from clinics and hospitals, noting its benefits during the pandemic and advocating for its continued availability to all Americans.

Congressman Burgess echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need for telehealth services in rural and underserved areas of Texas. He stated, “Expanding telehealth in our community will allow patients to receive quality care in an efficient manner, no matter their location." Burgess expressed optimism about the technological advancements enabling telehealth to improve healthcare accessibility for all American patients.

Congressman Nehls underlined the significance of telehealth in addressing healthcare needs in medically underserved communities, stating, “Telehealth has revolutionized our nation’s healthcare system to meet the American people’s healthcare needs, particularly in rural and medically underserved communities." Nehls expressed pride in supporting the extension of telehealth services for FQHCs and RHCs to ensure immediate and increased access to essential healthcare services nationwide.

The bill introduced by Van Orden, Murphy, Burgess, and Nehls aims to make telehealth services a permanent fixture in rural healthcare, providing millions of Americans in underserved communities with continued access to vital healthcare resources.