Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Alex Padilla have reintroduced the Health Accelerating Consumers’ Care by Expediting Self-Scheduling (ACCESS) Act. The bill aims to enhance patients' access to modern health care, ensure certainty for those seeking digital health services, and safeguard personal health information.

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

Senator Padilla emphasized the importance of accessible health care: “Every American deserves easy access to physical and mental health care,” he said. “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.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for digital health services and innovative practices. However, current laws do not differentiate between illegal referral practices and scheduling services that facilitate necessary care access. The Health ACCESS Act proposes adjustments to the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) to clarify regulations, allowing digital health platforms and appointment booking systems to collaborate effectively.

This collaboration aims to improve patient access through user-friendly services, expand provider options and scheduling availability, and enhance the overall healthcare experience.

The Health ACCESS Act has garnered support from numerous organizations including 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.