Expanding Rural Telehealth

This week President Trump announced new executive action to expand telehealth in rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

The executive order does a number of things including creating new payment mechanisms to give rural providers more flexibility and directing the Federal Communications Commission to improve the physical communications infrastructure available in rural America. The order also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to review what telehealth measures have worked during the pandemic so these services are extended once the pandemic is over.

These actions will make significant strides in telehealth now during the pandemic, while making sure this access to health care in rural communities continues long after COVID-19 is defeated. Click here to read the executive order.

We discuss this and more in this episode of Buddy's Briefing.

Click here for this episode of Buddy's Briefing

The Great American Outdoors Act

President Trump signed the Great American Outdoors Act into law this week. I was proud to support this legislation in Congress.

This legislation will permanently and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund and establish the National Parks and Public Land Restoration Fund to address deferred maintenance backlogs on public lands. This is important for the First District of Georgia as places like Fort Pulaski, Fort Frederica and Cumberland Island have a combined backlog of more than $20 million. This will help properly maintain these treasures for generations to come.

Click here for my message on the Great American Outdoors Act becoming law.

From our Nation's Capitol CCLXXVII

Tuesday, August 4, 2020: After a much-needed long weekend break, I’m back at it today as I have an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee member call as we discuss issues that are currently or will be before our committee in the near future and how we should be addressing those topics. Afterwards, I have a conference call with party leadership to discuss what issues our committees are discussing before joining in on a GOP Conference call where we are brought up to date on negotiations for a new COVID-19 relief package. The news from leadership on negotiations is not good as little progress appears to have been made between the two parties. Later in the afternoon, I have a Doctors Caucus conference call where we discuss Operation Warp Speed, the public-private partnership to facilitate development, manufacturing and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. The Administration and leadership in the House have asked Doctor Caucus members to assist in relaying the developments and progress of this important program.

Wednesday, August 5, 2020: I’m in our Savannah office this morning and start out where I left off yesterday with a virtual conference call with the Doctors Caucus as we hear from BIO President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath and BIO VP of Infectious Disease and Diagnostics Policy Phyllis Arthur to discuss the current efforts of the biopharmaceutical industry to combat COVID-19. BIO, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, is the world’s largest biotech trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations. Next, I have a virtual briefing with the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) to discuss the Global Environment Facility and the COVID-19 pandemic. The ICCF believes that the transmission of infectious pathogens from wildlife to human populations, as many believe happened with COVID-19, is a result of the unrelenting degradation of nature due to human pressure on nature and natural systems.

Rep. Carter at the Savannah Area Republican Women's luncheon

Afterwards, I have a virtual meeting with Savannah Global Solutions to learn more about their work with the World Trade Center Savannah and the country of Ghana. After our daily all-staff conference call, I head to the monthly Savannah Area Republican Women’s luncheon where we practice social distancing, and everyone wears masks when not eating. It is good to be able to get together again, although it is certainly not back to normal. Once back at our Savannah District office, I have a virtual meeting with the Historic Savannah Foundation to discuss grant opportunities they are seeking and afterwards have a great in-person meeting with the new Dean of South University School of Pharmacy, Dr. Dean Arneson. Jokingly, Dean Arneson says his father had some foresight of his future when he named him Dean. Next, I have a virtual meeting with the American Chemistry Council for an update on the chemical industry in Georgia followed by a virtual call with Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, FL, that serves southeast Georgia. Wolfson’s has been bringing patient families to our Washington office every year that I have been a member of Congress. This year I meet Chase Busby and his family from St. Simons Island. Chase has been receiving treatment at Wolfson’s and shares with me his experiences at the clinic.

Rep. Carter's playing cards from Wolfson Children's Hospital

Each child at Wolfson’s is issued a playing card and when they come to visit, they leave me a card. Chase’s card will be mailed to my office this year and when I receive it, I will add it to my collection that I keep in my daily journal folder. Afterwards, I film a video on the Great American Outdoors Act that I voted for in the House and that the President signed into law this week.

Thursday, August 6, 2020: After our daily all-staff conference call, I head to our Savannah office where I have a number of individual staff in-person meetings and calls in the morning. In the afternoon, I have a virtual biotechnology call with Dr. George Scangos, CEO of Vir Biotechnology which is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Dr. Scangos also serves as chair of BIO’s COVID working group that I had a call with earlier this week. Vir is a COVID response leader with its vaccinal antibody platform and, along with other team members, Dr. Scangos brings me up to date on their progress. Amazingly, one of the top scientists on the call, Dr. Bolyn Hubby, is from Savannah in the First District and was a member of our Church youth group when Amy and I served as youth counselors many years ago. Later, I have a virtual interview with WTOC-TV in Savannah to discuss a federal housing grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Housing Authorities of Savannah and Brunswick that we announced this week. A link to the interview can be found here.

Friday, August 7, 2020: I’m in Richmond Hill in Bryan County this morning as I attend the 11th Anniversary Service Mass for USMC Capt. Matthew Freeman held at St. Anne Catholic Church. Capt. Freeman, a 2002 graduate of the United States Naval Academy from Richmond Hill, was killed in action on August 7th, 2009, in Afghanistan. His memory remains strong in the community that he called home. Afterwards, I head to our Savannah office where I join in on our daily all-staff conference call before heading to a meeting with our new Wounded Warrior, Steven Marks, who is in town for a visit. Steven is currently in Orlando, FL, and will be joining our staff after Labor Day. On the way back to our Savannah office, I have a call with Camden County Administrator Steve Howard and representatives from a worldwide space exploration company that is looking to locate their headquarters at the Camden Spaceport.

Rep. Carter visits Candler Hospital

Next, I join in on an administration briefing by officials from Health and Human Services (HHS) who bring us up to date on COVID-19 before meeting with a constituent who has compiled COVID-19 data that he shares with me. Next, I have a phone interview with Politico before heading to Candler Hospital in Savannah where I am led on a tour by their great staff to see the preparations they have made to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Amazingly, they have converted an auditorium that I am very familiar with, having spoken there many times, into a 30 bed COVID-19 specific unit. Not only was this done in a short period of time, but the unit is equipped with some of the most up to date equipment available. The fine work that St. Joseph’s/Candler, as well as the other fine hospital systems in our district have delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic, is amazing. Afterwards, I record this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing on the grounds of the hospital.