Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced bipartisan legislation to make expanded access to telehealth services permanent.
“Nevadans should have easy access to essential health care services regardless of where they live,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will ensure families in rural communities don’t have to drive for hours to go to a routine doctor’s appointment that could be conducted virtually.”
“Many Montanans depend on telehealth services to provide health care access across our state, especially in rural communities where patients and families would otherwise have to drive long distances and face unpredictable weather conditions to receive care,” said Senator Daines. “This bipartisan bill expands the telehealth resources folks have come to rely on, and I’ll keep working to make sure Montanans have access to the care and services they need.”
“The Alliance to Fight for Health Care applauds Representatives Arrington and Schneider and Senators Daines and Cortez Masto for leading the charge to help keep telehealth affordable,” said Katy Johnson, President of American Benefits Council. “Access to care below the deductible provides peace of mind, knowing you can quickly get the care you need to address conditions before they worsen. This is vitally important for working families and everyday Americans — especially those in rural areas or those who are seeking tele-mental health care.”
The Telehealth Expansion Act will permanently allow full coverage of telehealth services under high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) paired with health savings accounts (HSA) without requiring a deductible. These services were first expanded during the pandemic, and this bill would make those expansions permanent – ensuring that Nevadans and all Americans can access telehealth services without the burden of first meeting a deductible.
Senator Cortez Masto is a champion for Nevada’s rural communities, working across the aisle to deliver for families. She has led legislation to support key tourism and outdoor industries in every corner of Nevada through economic development, and she has introduced a bipartisan bill to cut red tape for small businesses—including those in rural areas. She also ensured rural Nevada communities have better access to federal funds and services through the Rural Partners Network. In the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, she secured funding for rural schools and over $460 million for broadband. She also made sure the law included her legislation to help rural counties with internet access at local schools and streamline federal broadband funding to improve internet access for rural areas.
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