Padilla, Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Digital Health Services, Modernize Health Care System

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve digital health services by allowing patients to easily search for and book health care appointments online while protecting personal health information. The Health Accelerating Consumers' Care by Expediting Self-Scheduling (ACCESS) Act would increase patients' access to modernized health care, safeguard patients' personal health information, and ensure certainty for patients seeking digital health services.

"Every American deserves easy access to physical and mental health care," said Senator Padilla. "As provider wait times increase, integrating digital health programs into our health care system is essential to efficiently administering care. We cannot let scheduling obstacles prevent Americans in crisis from receiving care when they need it most."

"It's enough to struggle with an illness. Patients should have easy access to the care they need," said Dr. Cassidy. "There are plenty of tools to provide affordable, quality care. As a doctor, I'm focused on using them."

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the demand for digital health services and other innovative practices. Under current law, however, there is no distinction between illegal referral practices and scheduling services that reduce the barriers associated with accessing necessary and appropriate care.

The Health ACCESS Act would remove the regulatory ambiguity, allowing digital health and appointment booking platforms to work together to better serve patients. Doing so would improve access to care via user-friendly services, expand provider choice and scheduling availability, and enhance the overall health care experience and ecosystem.

The Health ACCESS Act is supported by Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Brownsville Community Health Center (FQHC), California Children's Hospital Association, California Hospital Association, Circle Medical, Chronic Care Policy Alliance, Corewell Health, Digital Health New York (DHNY), GoHealth Urgent Care, Grow Therapy, HANYS (Health Assoc of NYS), Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC), Housing Works Community Healthcare (FQHC), Illinois Hospital Association, Indiana University Health, Intermountain Health, LabFinder, Main Line Health, Manhattan Cardiology, Medical Offices of Manhattan, Memorial Hermann Health System, Octave, SohoMD, Spring Branch Community Health Center (FQHC), Stanford Children's Hospital, and The Dermatology Specialists.

Senator Padilla has long been a leader in the fight to make health care more equitable in the United States. Last week, Senator Padilla joined Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in introducing bipartisan legislation that would increase access to specialty care for rural and underserved Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) patients. 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. Additionally, Padilla and Booker 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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