Padilla, Mullin, Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Specialty Care in Rural Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced the Ensuring Access to Specialty Care Everywhere (EASE) Act, bipartisan legislation that will increase access to specialty care for rural and underserved Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) patients.
People living in rural communities have much higher wait times and have to travel much farther for appointments with specialists, such as in cardiology, oncology, and endocrinology, which are crucial for managing chronic conditions. Shortages of specialists in the area, continued closures of rural health facilities, and a lack of adequate public transportation have further increased these wait times, which is directly correlated with appointment cancellation or postponement rates.
“Everyone deserves access to quality, efficient health care. However, people in rural communities often face unacceptable barriers to care, including unsustainably high wait times and impossibly long drives to connect with specialists,” said Senator Padilla. “Our bipartisan EASE Act would expand telehealth capabilities so rural communities can access specialty care, allowing for earlier intervention and reducing unnecessary emergency visits.”
“Rural communities are disproportionately impacted by clinician shortages, an aging population, and transportation hurdles, which decrease individuals’ access to specialty care,” said Senator Mullin. “Harnessing the power of telehealth will address these needs and increase access to quality health care, of which many patients are in desperate need. I am glad to join my colleagues in reintroducing this bill to ensure access to quality health care regardless of a patients’ zip code.”
“Telehealth has become an invaluable tool in increasing access to quality care for all Americans,” said Senator Tillis. “However, too many individuals in rural and underserved communities still face serious challenges in accessing specialty care, which results in worse outcomes and higher costs. This legislation leverages technology to create a virtual specialty network to ensure everyone – regardless of location – receives the necessary care when and where they need it.”
“The National Rural Health Association applauds Senators Mullin and Padilla and Representatives Arrington, Salinas, and LaHood and for the introduction of the EASE Act. A shortage of health care providers in rural areas means that patients can often have long wait times and challenges accessing needed specialty care. The EASE Act is an innovative piece of legislation that would leverage virtual technologies to reduce wait times, overcome geographic barriers, and improve care for rural Americans,” said Alan Morgan, National Rural Health Association.
“We need to rethink how we ensure Rural America’s access to specialty care. The EASE Act is an innovative and cost-effective way to provide reliable and integrated access to specialists. OCHIN applauds Senators Mullin and Padilla for championing bi-partisan solutions that will redesign how high-quality care is delivered,” said Jennifer Stoll, Chief External Affairs Officer at OCHIN.
Specifically, the EASE Act would require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to establish a pilot digital platform to improve access to specialty health services for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in rural communities through the creation of a virtual specialty care network that connects individuals and their primary care provider with specialists digitally.
Representatives Jodey Arrington (R-Texas-19) and Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.-06) lead companion legislation in the House.
The EASE Act is supported by the following groups: National Rural Health Association, America’s Health Centers (AHC), National Association of Community Health Centers, City of Hope Cancer Centers, American Podiatric Medical Association, Society of Interventional Radiology, Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, ATA Action, National Association of Rural Health Clinics, American Alliance of Orthopedic Executives, and LIBRE.
Senator Padilla has long been a leader in the fight to make health care more equitable in the United States. Last year, Padilla, Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) of 2024 to address health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities as well as women, the LGBTQ+ community, rural populations, and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities across the United States. Padilla and Booker also introduced the Equal Health Care for All Act, bicameral legislation that would make equal access to medical care a protected civil right to help address the racial inequities and structural failures in America’s health care system.
Full text of the bill is available here.
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