Johnson and Weston-Broome point out that much of these health disparities is caused by a lack of access to care. To close these gaps, they say “policymakers must continue to work diligently to remove any legislative or regulatory barriers that impede progress.” They say telemedicine is becoming “an incredibly effective solution” for providing healthcare to communities where broadband Internet is available.
If a blog post is any indication, lawmakers at both the federal and state level are beginning to understand the importance of telemedicine and how it can reform healthcare.
U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Louisiana State Senator Sharon Weston-Broome (D) posted their article on The Hill, titled “Why telemedicine must become a healthcare priority in America.” They point to the healthcare disparities in America, the fact that 38% of African-American women with coronary heart disease die before age 75, while a comparable age group among white women with that health issue is less than 20%. And the stats are worse for Black males compared to white males.
