Policy Update: Federal Legislative Developments in Health Care

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Prepared for SAEM Members by the Bylaws and Governance Committee

The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) leadership is committed to keeping members informed about federal policy developments that may affect the practice of emergency medicine. Two recent congressional House Resolutions introduced during the 119th Congress highlight important issues for clinicians: the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care and the future of telehealth access.

HR 5045 - The HEALTH AI Act

Introduced in August 2025 by Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA) and co-sponsored by Representative Ami Bera (D-CA), HR 5045 seeks to advance the responsible use of generative AI in health care.

Key Provisions
  • Administrative burden reduction: The resolution supports funding research to study how AI can reduce the documentation and paperwork required of health care professionals.
  • Improved patient care: Supports projects that evaluate AI tools to assist with comprehensive note-taking and generating medically relevant questions during patient visits.
  • Claims processing: Encourages research into AI systems that may streamline and expedite health insurance claims.
  • Grant prioritization: Gives preference to initiatives that expand AI adoption, train clinicians, address workforce burnout, and improve access to care for underserved populations.
Why it Matters to Emergency Medicine

Emergency physicians face heavy documentation demands and high patient volumes. The HEALTH AI Act emphasizes tools that could reduce administrative burden and improve efficiency while addressing equity and clinician well-being.

HR 4206 - The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025

Introduced by a bipartisan group of legislators, including Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Troy Balderson (R-OH), and Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), HR 4206 focuses on making telehealth a permanent feature of the U.S. health care system.

Key Provisions
  • Elimination of geographic restrictions: Patients could receive telehealth care regardless of location.
  • Expansion of originating sites: Increases the range of patient settings where telehealth services may be provided.
  • Support for rural and Native American health centers: Expands telehealth options for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Native American health facilities.
  • Quality measurement and reporting: Directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish telehealth quality measures and publish quarterly data on utilization, expenditures, and outcomes.
  • Engagement study: This study requires HHS to examine strategies that enhance beneficiary participation in telehealth, focusing on underserved populations.
Why it Matters to Emergency Medicine

Telehealth has been widely used for follow-up care and for patients in rural or underserved areas. This bill ensures access continues beyond the temporary flexibilities granted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Context on Telehealth Flexibilities

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) telehealth exceptions are scheduled to expire on September 30, 2025. Exceptions for FQHCs and Rural Health Clinics extend until December 2025. Without Congressional action, reimbursement for telehealth visits to Medicare beneficiaries in their homes will revert to pre-pandemic restrictions.

 

SAEM members are encouraged to remain informed about these legislative developments. HR 5045 and HR 4206 can potentially affect patient care, clinician workload, and access to services within emergency medicine. In addition, portions of the CONNECT for Health Act may provide support for lines of academic inquiry of populations served by emergency telehealth.