Health Care from Home

health care frome home

As you all know, I am a pharmacist by trade. I’ve dedicated my life to helping patients get life-saving treatments and medications, and my commitment to building a quality, affordable, and accessible health care system followed me to Washington, D.C.

One of most exciting revolutions in health care access has been telehealth. I often say that we “knew” how important telehealth was before the pandemic, but we didn’t quite “realize” it until the pandemic. During the pandemic, there was an article in the New York Times that said telehealth has advanced more in one week than it had in the last 10 years, and it’s continued to play a vital role in our health care system. It’s an especially powerful tool for seniors, rural areas, and underserved communities, because it brings qualified health care professionals to every home in America.

It's important that we continue to use and educate people about this technology, so that patients understand what telehealth services are available to them and do not postpone going to the doctor because of difficulties making it to an in-person appointment.

That’s why this week, I was proud to introduce a resolution establishing September 15 – 21, 2024 as Telehealth Awareness Week. This is a bipartisan bill that aims to recognize the impact of telehealth in delivering health care services to patients across the United States and encourage continued use and adoption of this vital service. Additionally, the resolution reasserts Congress’ commitment to maintaining telehealth access for all patients.

This isn’t the only action we’re taking to protect telehealth access, either.

This upcoming week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee (E&C) will consider my Telehealth Modernization Act, a bill that will protect Medicare beneficiaries’ telehealth access and extend those flexibilities to federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics. After the bill passes this full committee markup, it will be ready for a vote on the House floor, something I hope to see before the end of the Congress.

I’ll keep you updated on how this week’s markup goes and will continue fighting for a health care system that puts patients before profits.

Happy Telehealth Awareness Week!

Buddy's briefing

In this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing, we are discussing "China Week" in Washington, and the legislation we passed to protect our interests from the Chinese Communist Party.

From our nation's capitol CDLXXV

Monday, September 9, 2024: I begin this week with a visit to Rayonier’s corporate headquarters in Wildlight, Florida, where I meet with my good friend, Mike Bell, VP of Public Affairs. I join him and other leadership for a tour of their beautiful facility and learn more of the developmental work they are doing throughout the Southeast. Rayonier is a global forest company that strives to provide sustainable forest management, land management, timber products, and real estate services. They are one of the largest timber forest owners in our district and one of their many real estate development projects is the new interchange on I-95 in Richmond Hill in Bryan County. After a great visit, I head to the Jacksonville airport for my return trip to Washington and, once back in my office, I have a number of staff meetings including with scheduling staff, communications staff, and legislative staff before visiting with our two new office interns. Next, I meet with members of the Energy and Commerce (E&C) staff to prepare for the E&C Energy subcommittee hearing that I hope to waive onto later this week before meeting with the full E&C staff to discuss the E&C Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Materials (ENV) subcommittee hearing that we will have next week. After a meeting with the Assistant Attorney General from the Department of Justice, Jonathan Kanter, to discuss insurance issues, I swing by the Tobacco Harm Reduction reception in the Rayburn foyer. Next, I head to our weekly Whip team meeting before heading off Capitol Hill to meet with members of the International Franchise Association and then returning to the Capitol for our first vote series of the week.

Rep. Carter visits Rayonier

Tuesday, September 10, 2024: I’m up early and on the radio and on the Laura Coates show this morning as we discuss the upcoming Presidential debate and the tragic shooting this past week at Apalachee High School. After attending our weekly border caucus meeting, I head to our weekly GOP conference meeting as Speaker Mike Johnson outlines his plans for a continuing resolution (CR) to prevent a government shutdown at the end of this month. Next, I head to an E&C Health subcommittee hearing on the Food and Drug Administration’s human foods and tobacco programs. Here, I discuss issues facing Georgia shrimpers. After, I head to an E&C Communications and Technology subcommittee hearing on the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program. Afterwards, I head off Capitol Hill for a meeting with the International Association of Plastics Distributors before heading back to our office where I meet with the new CEO of RaceTrac, Natalie Morhous. Later, I meet with members of the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) including Amy Murphy from Bryan County, before heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day. Next, I head back to our office to meet with representatives from the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG) Power, the wholesale provider of electric power to 49 communities around the state of Georgia that own and operate their own electric distribution systems. After heading back to the House Chamber for our second and final vote series of the day, I head to a meeting off Capitol Hill and later I meet with Brunswick Mayor Cosby Johnson, City Councilman Lance Sabbe, and Golden Isles Development Authority CEO Ryan Moore, who are in town this week with the Brunswick/Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce.

Rep. Carter at Energy and Commerce

Wednesday, September 11, 2024: I have a series of meetings off Capitol Hill this morning beginning with my good friend, Michael Wall with Aarons, followed by separate meetings with members of the Trump campaign, the International Association of Drilling Contractors, and EMD Serono Pharmaceuticals. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to my good friend Gus Bell from Savannah who recently passed, Freddie Howell who recently retired as the Bryan County Fire Chief, Ronald Cooper with the Glynn County Police Department for his heroic work, and my good friend Dick Berkowitz who recently passed. Next, I head to the Senate side of the Capitol where I speak to the Essential Minerals Association and then to the Brunswick/Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce (COC). Once back in our office, I meet with representatives from Cummins followed by the CEO of Encompass Health’s Savannah facility. After a great meeting with representatives with Rayonier, I head to the Longworth House Office building where I speak to the Cobb County COC before heading off Capitol Hill where I meet with Curtis LeGeyt, the CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, followed by a meeting with Doc Cohen, Past Chair of the IFA. Next, I head to the Bipartisan Policy Center in downtown Washington where I am on a panel with three of my Congressional colleagues as we discuss improvements to the federal permitting system. Once back on Capitol Hill, I head to the House Chamber for votes and afterwards join my Georgia House colleagues for a moment of silence to honor those students and teachers killed at Apalachee High School in Winder, GA. Following that very somber time, I pay tribute to Lois Wooten from Savannah, who recently passed.

Rep. Carter meets with the CEO of Encompass Health

Thursday, September 12, 2024: I am honored this morning to be with two of my Doctor’s Caucus colleagues, Dr. John Joyce (R-PA) and Dr. Greg Murphy (R-NC), as we are part of a health roundtable at the Ripon Society monthly meeting. After visiting with my good friend Marty Daniel, who is in town visiting, I head back to our office where I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing, Mineral Minute, and a video for the Georgia Economic Developers. Next, I meet with Lowe’s VP of Corporate Sustainability, Chris Cassell, to learn of all the work they are doing to protect our environment. Afterwards, I have a phone interview with Politico to discuss compounding of pharmaceuticals before heading to the House Chamber for our last vote series of the week and remain in the Chamber to pay tribute to William Hughes from Isle of Hope in Chatham County who passed recently. Once back in our office, I meet with representatives from Teva Pharmaceuticals to discuss pharmaceutical pricing before meeting with my good friend, John McCallum from St. Simons, who is in town representing Vivex Pharmaceuticals. After a meeting with representatives from the American Counseling Association’s (ACA) governing council, I join in on our all-staff call before heading to the airport for my return trip home.

Rep. Carter meets with Chris Cassell

Votes in the house this week

Click here to check the vote sheet for this week in the House of Representatives.