Washington, DC – The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) encouraged the Congressional Healthy Future Task Force Modernization Subcommittee to update health care laws to improve the lives of millions of Americans by modernizing telehealth policies and knocking down tax barriers to the use of wearable technology. The following statement supports ERIC’s response to the Subcommittee’s request for information. It should be attributed to Annette Guarisco Fildes, President and CEO, ERIC.
“Large employers strive to provide employees and their families with the most up-to-date health care options to improve their health and wellbeing, but outdated health care laws stand in the way, especially regarding technology.
For example, ERIC’s large employer member companies want to give their employees wearable health care technologies or encourage their purchase through health savings accounts, but outdated tax laws treat these as taxable events. Large employers also want their employees to have access to mental health and other providers regardless of where the employee or their families live or work. Rigid, state-based licensing rules prevent this from happening, so ERIC is calling for a national telehealth standard that would provide Americans with access to safe and affordable telehealth when and where they need it.
We urge lawmakers to pass legislation that opens up more options for keeping Americans healthy and involved with their care, including the PHIT Act of 2021, Primary and Virtual Care Affordability Act, Telehealth Expansion Act, and Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act.
Technology continues to advance. The longer we wait to make these changes to benefit workers and their families, the more catching up we will have to do. We must start now.”
Click here to read ERIC’s policy suggestions.