SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Advancing 
Connectivity during the Coronavirus to Ensure Support 
for Seniors Act’’ or the ‘‘ACCESS Act’’. 
TITLE I—SUPPLEMENTAL 
APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 101. SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS. 
The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of 
any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for 
other purposes, namely: 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 
SERVICES 
HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 
RURAL HEALTH 
For an additional amount for the Telehealth Re-
source Center of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy 
of the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, to pro-
vide assistance with respect to technical, legal, regulatory 
service delivery or other related barriers to the develop-
ment of telehealth technologies for skilled nursing facilities 
(as defined in section 1819 of the Social Security Act) and 
nursing facilities (as defined in section 1919 of such Act), 
$50,000,000 to remain available through September 30, 
2021. 
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TITLE 
II—INCREASED 
ACCESS 
TO 
TELEHEALTH 
SERVICES 
AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES 
SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) COVID–19 PUBLIC
HEALTH
EMERGENCY 
PERIOD.—The term ‘‘COVID–19 public health emer-
gency period’’ means the portion of the emergency 
period defined in paragraph (1)(B) of section 
1135(g) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1320b–5(g)) beginning on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
(2) MEDICAID PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Medicaid 
program’’ means, with respect to a State, the State 
program under title XIX of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (including any waiver or 
demonstration under such title or under section 
1115 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315) relating to such 
title). 
(3) MEDICARE.—The term ‘‘Medicare’’ means 
the program of health insurance for the aged and 
disabled established under title XVIII of the Social 
Security Act. 
(4) NURSING
FACILITY.—The term ‘‘nursing 
facility’’ has the meaning given that term in section 
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1919(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1396r(a)). 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
(6) SKILLED
NURSING
FACILITY.—The term 
‘‘skilled nursing facility’’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 1819(a) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395i–3(a)). 
(7) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the mean-
ing given such term for purposes of title XIX of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.). 
SEC. 202. IDENTIFICATION OF BARRIERS TO NURSING FA-
CILITIES ACCESSING TELEHEALTH SERVICES 
UNDER MEDICARE AND MEDICAID DURING 
THE COVID–19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. 
(a) CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING.—Not later than 15 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall brief the congressional committees specified in sub-
section (c) on options for immediately increasing access 
during the COVID–19 public health emergency period to 
telehealth services for which payment is available under 
Medicare for skilled nursing facilities and under Medicaid 
for nursing facilities. The briefing shall also include— 
(1) information regarding the extent to which 
access to telehealth services is required for any fa-
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cilities that are temporarily designated during the 
COVID–19 public health emergency period as par-
ticipating providers under Medicare, Medicaid, or 
both, for purposes of furnishing skilled nursing serv-
ices or nursing facility services to individuals who 
are eligible for such services under Medicare or Med-
icaid; and 
(2) recommendations for such administrative 
and legislative actions, including with respect to 
funding, as the Secretary determines are necessary. 
(b) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit a report to 
the congressional committees specified in subsection (c) 
after the briefing required under subsection (a) occurs 
that includes a summary of the briefing, any new or addi-
tional information requested during such briefing, and 
such other information as the Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
(c) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES SPECIFIED.—The 
congressional committees specified in this subsection are 
the following: 
(1) The Committees on Energy and Commerce 
and Ways and Means of the House of Representa-
tives. 
(2) The Committees on Finance, Health, Edu-
cation, Labor, and Pensions, Commerce, Science, 
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and Transportation, and the Special Committee on 
Aging of the Senate. 
SEC. 203. AUTHORITY TO AWARD GRANTS TO NURSING FA-
CILITIES FOR SUPPORTING VIRTUAL VISITS 
DURING 
THE 
COVID–19 
PUBLIC 
HEALTH 
EMERGENCY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award grants 
directly to skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities 
in accordance with this section to support virtual visits 
by family members and other individuals for residents of 
such facilities during the COVID–19 public health emer-
gency period. 
(b) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall coordinate 
with the Federal Communications Commission to ensure 
that all facilities awarded a grant under this section are 
able to carry out the purposes described in subsection (d), 
including through the provision of telecommunications and 
broadband services necessary to support virtual visits de-
scribed in subsection (a). 
(c) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—A facility seek-
ing a grant under this section shall submit an application 
to the Secretary at such time, in such form and manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary shall re-
quire. 
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