Orange County Rep. Michelle Steel, a Republican, introduced a bill into the House of Representatives Nov. 16 that seeks to increase access to long-distant patient care services for Americans. When the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law in March of 2020, it temporarily allowed Americans with Health Savings Accounts (HSA) to access telehealth services, a type of long-distance patient care over the phone or video chat without needing to first meet their deductible. In addition, the provision allowed individuals to choose and purchase telehealth services outside of their health plan, without impacting their eligibility for HSA services. “Telehealth has been life-changing for so many, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Steel said in a statement. “Increased access to telehealth has benefited a wide range of Americans, from seniors to high-risk patients, to those in rural areas. Congress must act to ensure that the millions of Americans to who …