James Walkinshaw (D-VA)
Telehealth Reporting and Transparency Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Telehealth Reporting and Transparency Act of 2026. It requires the government to track and report detailed data about telehealth services used under the Medicare program. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must submit annual reports to specific congressional committees containing information on telehealth claims, usage demographics, and provider details. Additionally, the bill requires the creation of a public internet dashboard displaying this aggregated information so people can see how telehealth is being used. Finally, the bill orders the Government Accountability Office to conduct an audit of the law's implementation between three and five years after enactment.
Yes· 3 of 15
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The legislation establishes a public internet dashboard to display aggregated Medicare telehealth data in a searchable and downloadable format.
- Scored +4
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill improves transparency and oversight of Medicare telehealth services, which are heavily utilized by older adults.
- Scored +4
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill requires detailed reporting on rural telehealth claims and broadband barriers affecting rural healthcare access.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Public Accountability via a Dashboard: Under section 2(a), which adds section 1834(m)(11)(B)(i) to the Social Security Act, a publicly available internet dashboard will be established to display aggregated telehealth information in a searchable and downloadable format. This gives the people clear, transparent oversight of how Medicare telehealth funds and services are being utilized.
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Protection Against Burdensome Red Tape: Under section 2(a), which adds section 1834(m)(11)(A)(iii)(IV) to the Social Security Act, the Secretary is explicitly barred from imposing new reporting or administrative requirements on physicians and practitioners to gather data for the reports. This ensures that doctors and healthcare providers are not bogged down by extra paperwork.
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Monitoring Access for Underserved Groups: Under section 2(a), which adds section 1834(m)(11)(A)(ii)(IV) and (V) to the Social Security Act, reports must disaggregate claims by age, race, ethnicity, income level, disability status, and preferred language, while identifying populations whose utilization fell materially below the national average. This helps shine a light on whether vulnerable or low-income Americans are being left behind in telehealth access.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No explicit negative impacts on individuals or groups of people are found within the text of the bill.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill requires detailed reporting on rural telehealth claims and broadband barriers affecting rural healthcare access. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill improves transparency and oversight of Medicare telehealth services, which are heavily utilized by older adults. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill mandates the disaggregation of telehealth claims by race and ethnicity to ensure equitable healthcare access. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Disaggregating telehealth data by ethnicity helps monitor and improve service delivery for Hispanic Americans. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The legislation tracks telehealth usage among low-income Medicare beneficiaries to identify and address utilization gaps. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The legislation specifically requires telehealth claims to be disaggregated by disability status to monitor accessibility. Would business owners be better off under this? — Practitioners benefit from explicit protections that bar the imposition of new administrative and reporting burdens. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Improved oversight of telehealth programs can indirectly benefit veterans who rely on similar remote healthcare options.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The legislation establishes a public internet dashboard to display aggregated Medicare telehealth data in a searchable and downloadable format.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — By monitoring telehealth utilization and identifying underserved populations, the legislation helps ensure better healthcare accessibility. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill enhances oversight and data transparency for telehealth services provided under the Medicare program.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill requires Medicare telehealth claims data to be disaggregated by race and ethnicity to monitor utilization among minority populations. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Tracking telehealth access by income level helps identify and address disparities affecting low-income individuals.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — The bill incorporates federal broadband data assessments to identify telecommunication barriers limiting telehealth access.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The legislation mandates tracking rural telehealth claims and examining potential broadband barriers affecting rural communities.
- 9/14/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Earl CarterRepublican · Georgia