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US HR6487

US HR6487
ACCESS Act Advancing Connectivity during the Coronavirus to Ensure Support for Seniors Act


summary

Introduced
04/10/2020
In Committee
04/14/2020
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

116th Congress

Bill Summary

To increase the ability of nursing facilities to access telehealth services and obtain technologies to allow virtual visits during the public health emergency relating to an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and for other purposes. This bill (1) provides appropriations for the Telehealth Resource Center Program of the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth within the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy in the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) to develop telehealth capacity for certain nursing facilities, and (2) directs other activities to increase access to telehealth services in such facilities during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. HRSA shall award grants, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, to skilled nursing facilities and other nursing facilities to support virtual visits to residents during the emergency. The Department of Health and Human Services must also provide recommendations related to immediately increasing access, during the emergency, to telehealth services for which Medicare and Medicaid payments are available in skilled and other nursing facilities.

AI Summary

This bill, the Advancing Connectivity during the Coronavirus to Ensure Support for Seniors Act (ACCESS Act), aims to increase the ability of nursing facilities to access telehealth services and obtain technologies to allow virtual visits during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The bill provides $50 million in supplemental appropriations for the Telehealth Resource Center Program within the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to assist with telehealth development for skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities. It also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to identify barriers to nursing facilities accessing telehealth services under Medicare and Medicaid and provide recommendations for administrative and legislative actions to increase access during the emergency. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Secretary to award grants directly to skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities to support virtual visits by family members and other individuals for residents during the COVID-19 public health emergency period.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

Sponsors (88)

Jan Schakowsky (D)* Colin Allred (D),  Cindy Axne (D),  Nanette Barragán (D),  Joyce Beatty (D),  Gus Bilirakis (R),  Sanford Bishop (D),  Lisa Blunt Rochester (D),  Suzanne Bonamici (D),  Brendan Boyle (D),  Anthony Brindisi (D),  Vern Buchanan (R),  André Carson (D),  Matt Cartwright (D),  Joaquin Castro (D),  Judy Chu (D),  David Cicilline (D),  Gil Cisneros (D),  Yvette Clarke (D),  Steve Cohen (D),  Joe Courtney (D),  Charlie Crist (D),  Jason Crow (D),  Rodney Davis (R),  Susan Davis (D),  Peter DeFazio (D),  Diana DeGette (D),  Val Demings (D),  Mark DeSaulnier (D),  Debbie Dingell (D),  Lloyd Doggett (D),  Adriano Espaillat (D),  Abby Finkenauer (D),  Brian Fitzpatrick (R),  Chuy García (D),  Debra Haaland (D),  Josh Harder (D),  Jahana Hayes (D),  Denny Heck (D),  Brian Higgins (D),  Jim Himes (D),  George Holding (R),  Pramila Jayapal (D),  Hakeem Jeffries (D),  Eddie Johnson (D),  Hank Johnson (D),  Dave Joyce (R),  John Katko (R),  Joseph Kennedy (D),  Dan Kildee (D),  Derek Kilmer (D),  Peter King (R),  Raja Krishnamoorthi (D),  Ann Kuster (D),  James Langevin (D),  John Larson (D),  Susie Lee (D),  Alan Lowenthal (D),  Elaine Luria (D),  Stephen Lynch (D),  Carolyn Maloney (D),  Sean Maloney (D),  Grace Meng (D),  Joe Morelle (D),  Seth Moulton (D),  Eleanor Holmes Norton (D),  Ilhan Omar (D),  Mark Pocan (D),  Ayanna Pressley (D),  Max Rose (D),  Harley Rouda (D),  John Sarbanes (D),  Mary Gay Scanlon (D),  Adam Schiff (D),  Donna Shalala (D),  Darren Soto (D),  Abigail Spanberger (D),  Elise Stefanik (R),  G.T. Thompson (R),  Dina Titus (D),  Paul Tonko (D),  Xochitl Torres Small (D),  Lauren Underwood (D),  Fred Upton (R),  Nydia Velázquez (D),  Ann Wagner (R),  Maxine Waters (D),  Frederica Wilson (D), 

Last Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. (on 04/14/2020)

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