HR6033-118

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supporting Patient Education And Knowledge Act of 2023 or the SPEAK Act of 2023.

2. Findings Congress finds the following: Telehealth has become a critical source of health care for patients. Patients with limited English proficiency have lower telehealth use rates than proficient English speakers. Patients with limited English proficiency are less likely to utilize video telehealth options for primary care visits. Physicians providing telehealth services for people with limited English proficiency would benefit from additional resources and support. Access to telehealth saves patients money through reduced travel costs, as well as time-related tradeoffs.

3. Improved access to health care information technology for non-English speakers task force Within 180 days of the passage of this legislation, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary) shall convene a task force known as the Improved Access to Health Care Information Technology for non-English Speakers Task Force (in this section referred to as the Task Force) to— assess current barriers to health information technology services, including telehealth platforms and patient portals, for people with limited English proficiency; and develop recommendations and best practices for addressing identified barriers including— how health information technology platforms can be designed to maximize access for people with limited English proficiency, including those with additional barriers such as living in rural locations or with communications-related disabilities; how health information technology platforms and language service providers, including providers of remote video interpretation, can improve integration; and how health care providers can best facilitate access to health information technology for their patients with limited English proficiency. The Task Force shall be composed of representatives of— the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; the Health Resources and Services Administration; the Office of Minority Health; the Office for Civil Rights; health information technology service providers, including electronic medical record, remote patient monitoring and tele- and mobile-health vendors and companies; health care providers, including practicing physicians, and hospitals; health care insurance companies; language service companies; interpreter and translator professional associations; health and language services quality certification organizations; patient and consumer advocates, including but not limited to those working directly with limited English-proficient populations; and any other entity determined necessary by the Secretary. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a request for information for health care providers, insurance plans, consumer organizations, language service providers, interpreters and other relevant parties on barriers to providing telehealth services to people with limited English proficiency. The Secretary shall compile and summarize the responses to the request for information for the Task Force which shall utilize them in completing its duties under section (a). Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this section, the Task Force shall submit to Congress a report on the progress of the Task Force in carrying out subsection (a). Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Task Force shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the activities of the Task Force in carrying out subsection (a), including— the results of the assessment under subsection (a)(1); and any recommendations and best practices developed under subsection (a)(2).

4. Best practices publication No later than 90 days after completion of each report described in section 2(d), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall publish, publicize, and maintain a website for the purposes of informing health care and technology providers about best practices for connecting people with limited English proficiency to health care information technology services. The website shall provide guidance and resources, identifying best practices in— facilitating and integrating use of interpreters during telehealth sessions; providing accessible instructions on how to access telehealth platforms for people with limited English proficiency; improving access to digital patient portals; and other topics need appropriate by the Secretary, as advised by the Task Force established under section 3.