Connecting Constituents to Health Information and Services: Resources for Congressional Offices

As part of their representational activities, Members of Congress and their staffs provide a range of information and services to constituents. Some constituent communications reflect concerns about health and health care. Constituents may have, for example, difficulty finding and using health coverage; questions about finding health providers and facilities; hardships related to medical costs; requests for information on diseases, conditions, or treatments; or complaints about health providers, facilities, and products. To address these concerns, congressional offices may refer eligible constituents to various federal, state, and local resources and programs. This report compiles selected resources and contacts that congressional offices can use when responding to constituents’ inquiries regarding health and health care concerns. When possible, it lists federally funded referral services that provide individual assistance to constituents and matches specific circumstances to relevant federal, state, or local programs. Constituents can use these online resources, or discuss their specific situations with trained staff at the listed hotlines, to identify and access programs, resources, and benefits relevant to their needs. This report is organized into five sections, with resources and contacts for finding and using health coverage; finding health providers and facilities; financial hardship related to medical costs; information on diseases, conditions, and treatments; and complaints about health care providers, facilities, or products. The Appendix lists selected CRS reports for congressional clients seeking (1) additional resources to support their work with constituents and (2) background on some of the programs and policy issues mentioned in this report. This report is not intended to be a comprehensive catalog of all relevant resources and contacts; rather, it emphasizes federal or federally supported resources and hotlines to address constituents’ frequently asked questions.