Increasing Rural Health Access During the COVID–19 Public Health Emergency Act of 2020

To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of a virtual health pilot program to facilitate utilization of remote patient monitoring technology to maintain or expand access to health care services for individuals in rural areas during the COVID–19 emergency period, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Increasing Rural Health Access During the COVID–19 Public Health Emergency Act of 2020 2. Increasing rural health access during the COVID–19 public health emergency (a) Definitions Subsection (a) of section 330I of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254c–14 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (7) as paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (8), and (9), respectively; (2) by inserting before paragraph (2), as redesignated, the following new paragraph: (1) COVID–19 emergency period The term COVID–19 emergency period Increasing Rural Health Access During the COVID–19 Public Health Emergency Act of 2020 ; and (3) by inserting before paragraph (8), as redesignated, the following: (7) Remote patient monitoring technology The term remote patient monitoring technology . (b) Programs Subsection (b) of section 330I of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254c–14 (1) by striking The Secretary shall establish, under section 301 (1) In general The Secretary shall establish, under section 301 ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (2) Virtual health pilot program The Secretary shall establish a virtual health pilot program to facilitate utilization of remote patient monitoring technology to maintain or expand access to health care services for individuals in rural areas during the COVID–19 emergency period. . (c) Grants Subsection (d) of section 330I of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254c–14 (3) Virtual health network pilot program grants The Director shall, in carrying out the virtual health pilot program referred to in subsection (b)(2), award grants to eligible entities to facilitate utilization of remote patient monitoring technology in rural areas to— (A) maintain or expand access to, and coordinate health care services for, individuals with chronic conditions; (B) improve and expand the training of health care providers using remote patient monitoring technology; and (C) minimize challenges facing health care providers and health care facilities, including rural health clinics, community health centers, community behavioral health centers, long-term care facilities, and rural hospitals, as such providers and facilities serve their communities especially during the COVID–19 emergency period. . (d) Grant periods Subsection (e) of section 330I of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254c–14 (1) by striking The Director may award grants under this section (1) Telehealth network and telehealth research center grants The Director may award grants under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (d) ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (2) Virtual health network pilot program grants The Director shall— (A) not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of Increasing Rural Health Access During the COVID–19 Public Health Emergency Act of 2020 (B) not later than 90 days after the date of issuance of the notice required by subparagraph (A), award all grants under subsection (d)(3). . (e) Eligible entities Subsection (f) of section 330I of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254c–14 (4) Virtual health network pilot program grants To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (d)(3), an entity shall— (A) meet the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection that apply to an entity seeking a grant under subsection (d)(1); (B) be located in a rural area; and (C) demonstrate that the entity will provide services using remote patient monitoring technology that is— (i) cellular enabled; (ii) approved, cleared, or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration; and (iii) operable using cellular standards, including 2G and 3G, that offer broad network coverage in rural areas without broadband access, as determined by the Secretary. . (f) Applications Subsection (g) of section 330I of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254c–14 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (8) as subparagraphs (A) through (H), respectively, and moving the margin of each such redesignated subparagraph 2 ems to the right; (2) by striking To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (d) (1) Telehealth network and telehealth research center grants To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (d) ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (2) Virtual health network pilot program grants To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (d)(3), an eligible entity shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require and include in such application— (A) a description of the project that the eligible entity will carry out using the funds provided under the grant; (B) a description of the manner in which the project funded under the grant will meet the health care needs of rural or other populations to be served through the project, or maintain or improve access to services of, and the quality of the services received by, those populations; (C) information on the source and amount of non-Federal funds that the entity will provide for the project; and (D) evidence of intent to provide services using remote patient monitoring technology as described in subsection (f)(4)(C). . (g) Preferences Subsection (h) of section 330I of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254c–14 (3) Virtual health network pilot program grants In awarding grants under subsection (d)(3), the Secretary shall give preference to any eligible entity that— (A) is able to establish a virtual health program using remote patient monitoring technology within 60 days of receipt of the award; and (B) proposes to use Federal funds made available through such a grant to establish and furnish services using remote patient monitoring technology that provides real time, continuous coaching services. . (h) Use of funds Subsection (j) of section 330I of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254c–14 (3) Virtual health network pilot program grants The recipient of a grant under subsection (d)(3) may use funds received through such grant for salaries, equipment, and operating or other costs for— (A) developing and delivering services using remote patient monitoring technology that enhance access to community-based health care services in rural areas; (B) developing and acquiring, through lease or purchase, computer hardware and software, audio and video equipment, computer network equipment, interactive equipment, data terminal equipment, and other equipment that furthers the objectives of the virtual health pilot program; (C) (i) providing for transmission of medical data, and maintenance of equipment; and (ii) providing for compensation (including travel expenses) of specialists, and referring health care providers, who are providing virtual health services through remote patient monitoring technology if no third-party payment is available; (D) collecting and analyzing usage statistics and data to document the cost-effectiveness of services using remote patient monitoring technology; and (E) carrying out such other activities as are consistent with achieving the objectives of the virtual health pilot program, as determined by the Secretary. . (i) Funding Subsection (q) of section 330I of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254c–14 (1) in the subsection heading, by striking Authorization of appropriations Funding (2) by striking There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section (1) Telehealth network and telehealth research center grants To carry out this section with respect to grants under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (d), there is authorized to be appropriated ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (2) Virtual health network pilot program grants To carry out this section with respect to the virtual health pilot program under subsection (b)(2), including grants under subsection (d)(3), there is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000, to remain available through the end of the COVID–19 emergency period. . (j) Report Not later than two years after awarding all grants under subsection (d)(3) of section 330I of the Public Health Service Act, as added by this section, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on the activities and outcomes of the pilot program under subsection (b)(2) of section 330I of such Act, as added by this section.

Summary: Increasing Rural Health Access During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Act of 2020 This bill establishes, as part of certain grants for telehealth networks and resource centers, a pilot project to increase the use of remote patient monitoring technology in rural areas during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency. Specifically, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) must award grants to eligible entities in rural areas to coordinate care for individuals with chronic conditions and conduct other activities using remote patient monitoring technology. Eligible entities must meet requirements for participating in telehealth networks and must use appropriate technologies. Grant funds may be used, for example, to develop or acquire computer hardware and other equipment. In awarding these grants, HRSA shall give priority to entities that are capable of establishing programs quickly and that use technologies that provide continuous, real-time coaching services.