Political Quotes

“I rise today, along with my colleagues Senator Cardin, Senator Marshall, and Senator Shaheen, to introduce the Home Health Emergency Access to Telehealth (HEAT) Act. This bipartisan bill would help ensure that seniors who rely on home health care have the choice to receive these critical services through telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and future public health emergencies. COVID-19 is the greatest public health challenge since the flu pandemic of 1918 and has claimed the lives of more than 565,000 Americans. This public health emergency has underscored the need for older adults and other at-risk populations to have access to health care in the home setting. Home-based care is crucial to ensuring that this pandemic does not create devastating long-term health consequences due to delayed care. The highly skilled and compassionate care that home health agencies provide is an important component of this in-home care. I have been a strong supporter of home care since my very first home visit, which took place in my hometown in Aroostook County early in my Senate service. This experience gave me the opportunity to meet and visit with home health patients, where I saw first-hand what a difference highly skilled and caring visiting nurses and other health care professionals make to the lives of patients and their families. I have been a passionate advocate for home care ever since.…”