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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Telehealth, the practice of providing health care |
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services through the use of telecommunications technologies, has |
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benefited millions of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and |
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has become an increasingly important part of medical care in the |
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U.S. and beyond; and |
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WHEREAS, The advent of telehealth has allowed health care |
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providers to remotely and securely connect with patients when |
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in-person interaction is not clinically necessary or available, |
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thereby enabling medical professionals to reach a larger number |
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of patients; because of the safety challenges posed by COVID-19, |
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telehealth and other virtual care services have enjoyed far wider |
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use and now represent 15 to 20 percent of health care delivery; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Serving as a valuable means of augmenting |
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in-person care, telehealth has become an integral tool that |
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allows providers to do more good for more people and can be |
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particularly helpful for patients in need of specialty |
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treatment; and |
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WHEREAS, Broadening access to telehealth services has the |
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potential to greatly benefit patients who currently have more |
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limited health care options, including members of rural and |
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underserved communities; and |
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WHEREAS, Telehealth Awareness Week is taking place from |
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September 19 to 25, 2021, and serves as an occasion to unite |
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patients, caregivers, health care providers, policymakers, and |
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other stakeholders around the goal of advancing the role of |
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telehealth in our health care system; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 87th Texas Legislature, |
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2nd Called Session, hereby recognize September 19 to 25, 2021, as |
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Telehealth Awareness Week and encourage Texans to learn more |
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about their telehealth options. |