Telehealth Bill, the ECHO Act, Passes Both Chambers of Congress

The Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Act (S. 2873/H.R. 5395) is now headed to President Barack Obama’s desk after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill by a voice vote on Tuesday.

Last week, the Senate passed the ECHO Act by a vote of 97-0. The bill, sponsored by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Brian Schatz (D-HI), requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study the benefits of distance education and technology-enabled learning for health care providers to improve patient care. The House companion bill was sponsored by Representatives Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Doris Matsui (D-CA).