# Plain Language Summary: HEALTH Act of 2021

This bill makes it easier for doctors to provide telehealth services—video visits and phone consultations—to their patients without running into privacy rule complications. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government temporarily allowed doctors to use common video platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and FaceTime for patient visits, even though these platforms weren't originally designed specifically for healthcare. This bill would make that flexibility permanent by updating the privacy rules (called HIPAA) to officially allow doctors to keep using these everyday communication tools for telehealth for at least seven years after the emergency period ends.

Right now, HIPAA rules are pretty strict about which technology doctors can use for patient visits, typically requiring special healthcare-approved platforms. This bill recognizes that regular video apps work fine for many types of medical consultations and that forcing doctors to use only specialized (and often expensive) healthcare software creates unnecessary barriers. The change would help patients who might not have access to fancy medical apps but can easily use technology they already have on their phones and computers. It would also reduce costs for healthcare providers, which could translate to more affordable or accessible care.

The bill gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services the power to extend this seven-year period if they decide it's working well. Essentially, this is about removing red tape so that telehealth—which became crucial during the pandemic—can continue to be practical and accessible for everyday Americans who want to see their doctors from home.

HEALTH Act of 2021

Cawthorn, Madison

Helping Every American Link To Healthcare Act of 2021 or the HEALTH Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue allowing providers to use certain communication products when furnishing telehealth services after the COVID-19 emergency ends. Generally, providers must use communication products that comply with applicable federal privacy and security standards; however, HHS issued a notification stating that it would not enforce penalties against providers who, in good faith, use noncompliant communication products during the COVID-19 emergency. The bill requires HHS to revise applicable privacy and security regulations to allow providers to use noncompliant products for seven years after the COVID-19 emergency ends. HHS may elect to extend this period following a review of telehealth services furnished over those seven years.