[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6033 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6033
To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a
task force to improve access to health care information technology for
non-English speakers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 24, 2023
Mrs. Steel (for herself, Mr. Gomez, Mr. Ciscomani, Mr. Espaillat, Mr.
Cardenas, Ms. De La Cruz, Mrs. Kim of California, Mr. Cuellar, Ms. Chu,
Mr. Panetta, Mr. Valadao, Mr. Vargas, Mr. Carbajal, Ms. Lee of Nevada,
and Ms. Sewell) introduced the following bill
October 25, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a
task force to improve access to health care information technology for
non-English speakers.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Patient Education And
Knowledge Act of 2023'' or the ``SPEAK Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Telehealth has become a critical source of health care
for patients.
(2) Patients with limited English proficiency have lower
telehealth use rates than proficient English speakers.
(3) Patients with limited English proficiency are less
likely to utilize video telehealth options for primary care
visits.
(4) Physicians providing telehealth services for people
with limited English proficiency would benefit from additional
resources and support.
(5) Access to telehealth saves patients money through
reduced travel costs, as well as time-related tradeoffs.
SEC. 3. IMPROVED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR NON-
ENGLISH SPEAKERS TASK FORCE.
(a) In General.--Within 180 days of the passage of this
legislation, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this
section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall convene a task force
known as the ``Improved Access to Health Care Information Technology
for non-English Speakers Task Force'' (in this section referred to as
the ``Task Force'') to--
(1) assess current barriers to health information
technology services, including telehealth platforms and patient
portals, for people with limited English proficiency; and
(2) develop recommendations and best practices for
addressing identified barriers including--
(A) how health information technology platforms can
be designed to maximize access for people with limited
English proficiency, including those with additional
barriers such as living in rural locations or with
communications-related disabilities;
(B) how health information technology platforms and
language service providers, including providers of
remote video interpretation, can improve integration;
and
(C) how health care providers can best facilitate
access to health information technology for their
patients with limited English proficiency.
(b) Membership.--The Task Force shall be composed of
representatives of--
(1) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services;
(2) the Office of the National Coordinator for Health
Information Technology;
(3) the Health Resources and Services Administration;
(4) the Office of Minority Health;
(5) the Office for Civil Rights;
(6) health information technology service providers,
including electronic medical record, remote patient monitoring
and tele- and mobile-health vendors and companies;
(7) health care providers, including practicing physicians,
and hospitals;
(8) health care insurance companies;
(9) language service companies;
(10) interpreter and translator professional associations;
(11) health and language services quality certification
organizations;
(12) patient and consumer advocates, including but not
limited to those working directly with limited English-
proficient populations; and
(13) any other entity determined necessary by the
Secretary.
(c) Request for Information.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a request
for information for health care providers, insurance plans,
consumer organizations, language service providers,
interpreters and other relevant parties on barriers to
providing telehealth services to people with limited English
proficiency.
(2) Summary of responses.--The Secretary shall compile and
summarize the responses to the request for information for the
Task Force which shall utilize them in completing its duties
under section (a).
(d) Submission to Congress.--
(1) Interim report.--Not later than one year after the date
of enactment of this section, the Task Force shall submit to
Congress a report on the progress of the Task Force in carrying
out subsection (a).
(2) Final report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Task
Force shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees
a report on the activities of the Task Force in carrying out
subsection (a), including--
(A) the results of the assessment under subsection
(a)(1); and
(B) any recommendations and best practices
developed under subsection (a)(2).
SEC. 4. BEST PRACTICES PUBLICATION.
No later than 90 days after completion of each report described in
section 2(d), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall publish,
publicize, and maintain a website for the purposes of informing health
care and technology providers about best practices for connecting
people with limited English proficiency to health care information
technology services. The website shall provide guidance and resources,
identifying best practices in--
(1) facilitating and integrating use of interpreters during
telehealth sessions;
(2) providing accessible instructions on how to access
telehealth platforms for people with limited English
proficiency;
(3) improving access to digital patient portals; and
(4) other topics need appropriate by the Secretary, as
advised by the Task Force established under section 3.
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