Urge Congress to Support Patient Access to Care During the Public Health Emergency and Beyond
Dermatologists are committed to providing the best quality of care to their patients, even during a public health emergency. The COVID-19 crisis has emphasized the need for legislation to help reduce barriers to care and treatment. That’s why the American Academy of Dermatology Association is asking for your help in advocating for the following bills that seek to increase access to patient care:
- Safe Step Act (H.R. 2279/S. 2546) – which would ensure that physicians remain the clinical authority over a patient’s care and lessen the burden on patients required to go through step therapy protocols mandated by insurance companies.
- Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3107) – which would reduce the burden of prior authorization in Medicare Advantage plans and allow physicians to spend more time treating patients.
- Knowing the Efficiency and Efficacy of Permanent (KEEP) Telehealth Options Act (H.R. 7233) – which would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Comptroller General of the United States to conduct studies and report to Congress on actions taken to expand access to telehealth services under Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance programs during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act (H.R. 4932/S. 2741) – would responsibly remove geographic and payment barriers to telehealth, increasing access to healthcare for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
Send the letter to the right to ask your Representative and Senators to support patients by cosponsoring these bills. Personalized letters have an even greater impact on legislators, so consider including a personal story about why access to health care matters to you. Thank you for your advocacy on these important issues