Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a gastroenterologist, is a contender to chair the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee if Republicans can eke out control of the Senate. He’s a telehealth proponent and has repeatedly warned about hackers targeting hospitals and other health care organizations.
No matter who wins the majority, both issues have bipartisan support.
In the current Congress, Cassidy has teamed with Nevada Democrat Jacky Rosen on a bill that would bolster cybersecurity by requiring HHS to work more closely with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Divided government is most likely coming in January. What can move that’s bipartisan?
I’m hoping that there will be a bipartisan effort on telehealth so we can look at what worked and didn’t work under the public health emergency. Telemental health has been very valuable. There have been some issues that need to be worked through in terms of payment, but we can work through those. Telephysical health could be very valuable. I like to think we get something passed in the next Congress.
