Senate Designated Telehealth Awareness Week
The U.S. Senate passed a resolution to recognize the role of remote care for patients across the country.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in COVID-19
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The U.S. Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution 902, which formally designates September 20 through 26 as Telehealth Awareness Week. The measure aims to highlight the importance of virtual care delivery for patients in rural communities and areas facing health workforce shortages.
Why it matters
Telehealth has become a critical tool for expanding medical access, particularly for those in underserved regions or rural communities. This resolution encourages broader efforts to analyze telehealth outcomes and increase public awareness of available remote health services.
Official government figures indicate that 23% of Medicare beneficiaries utilized at least one telehealth service in 2025. While this usage data tracks current adoption, the impact of these remote services on long-term clinical outcomes remains under investigation.
The players
Roger Wicker
A U.S. Senator representing Mississippi who cosponsored the resolution to promote telehealth awareness.
Brian Schatz
A U.S. Senator who served as a cosponsor for the resolution recognizing the impact of telehealth services.
United States Senate
The legislative body that unanimously passed the resolution to designate a national week for telehealth awareness.
The details
Telehealth operates by utilizing digital communication tools to facilitate consultations between patients and clinicians, bypassing the need for physical travel. By bridging geographical gaps, the technology helps patients manage chronic conditions or access specialists that may be unavailable in their immediate vicinity. The resolution passed by the Senate seeks to encourage more robust data collection to better understand how these remote interactions influence quality of care and patient access.
Timeline
2025: 23 percent of Medicare beneficiaries used telehealth services.
Sept. 24, 2026: The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the resolution.
Sept. 20-26, 2026: Designated Telehealth Awareness Week.
Health Landscape
Senate Resolution 902 establishes a formal federal platform for promoting and studying the efficacy of remote healthcare delivery. This move reflects a shift toward integrating digital health into the standard of care to address persistent provider shortages and geographic barriers.
If you are managing a chronic condition or live in an area with few specialists, you may want to ask your primary care physician about the potential for incorporating telehealth into your current treatment plan. Discussing whether remote options suit your specific needs can help ensure you maintain consistent care while reducing the burden of travel.
The takeaway
Telehealth is increasingly recognized as a vital component for maintaining continuity of care in the modern health system. Consider tracking your own access to these services and identifying which routine consultations might be effectively managed through virtual appointments.
Further reading
For more on the evolution of virtual care delivery, explore our COVID-19 section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Riponadvance.
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