A geriatric nurse practitioner who served as a Navy helicopter pilot in the Persian Gulf through two deployments, U.S. Representative Jen Kiggans (R-VA) introduced new legislation that would allow more providers to use telehealth services, expanding access and reducing barriers for their patients.
Kiggans joined fellow former Navy helicopter pilot U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), a pharmacist, to cosponsor the Expanded Telehealth Access Act, which would make permanent many of the temporary telehealth waivers introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic that are set to expire at the end of 2024. Studies show that telehealth saves patients time, travel, and money, improving access to and satisfaction with care and ultimately contributing to optimal outcomes.
“As a geriatric nurse practitioner, expanding access to health care is one of my top priorities in Congress,” Kiggans said. “This bill will make a positive impact in the lives of millions of Americans, particularly our aging population and rural residents.”
Kiggans is the most recently elected of three nurses serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, joining the chamber in November 2022. She has already distinguished herself as an outspoken voice for U.S. veterans and those who serve in the armed forces through her insistence on improving their access to and quality of care.