Schatz, Hatch Health Tele-Training Bill Passes Unanimously in the Senate

Press Release

U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai"i) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) issued the following statements after the Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Act, legislation they introduced, passed in the Senate by a vote of 97-0. This legislation will increase access to high-quality health care in hard-to-reach regions.

"We're now one step closer to supporting new ways to train health providers and deliver health care," said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. "Technology is changing the way medical professionals connect with each other and their patients. Our bill capitalizes on this technology to give health professionals in hard-to-reach areas the specialized training they need and help them reach more patients."

"On a recent visit to southern Utah, I had the opportunity to visit a rural health center and speak to some of the families that rely on services included in the ECHO Act," Senator Hatch said. "Some of these individuals had health conditions that required specialized care or could be managed much closer to home by health professionals they know and trust. By using technology to connect patients and providers, this bill will benefit Utah's families by helping them receive the care they need, when they need it. I'm grateful for the valuable input Utah's health leaders have provided in crafting this proposal."

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