Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.727 | Sponsor: Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. (D-CA)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2021
This bill provides statutory authority for certain requirements with respect to the rights of residents in Medicare skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Specifically, the bill requires SNFs to provide residents with reasonable access to a telephone and the internet and to inform residents of such access and of any policy changes regarding external visitors.
Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must issue guidance to help SNFs ensure that residents have access to televisitation during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure 
     communications accessibility for residents of skilled nursing 
            facilities during the COVID-19 emergency period.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Facilitating Virtual Visitation for 
Nursing Home Residents Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. ENSURING COMMUNICATIONS ACCESSIBILITY FOR RESIDENTS OF SKILLED 
              NURSING FACILITIES DURING THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY PERIOD.

    (a) In General.--Section 1819(c)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395i-3(c)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(F) provide for reasonable access to the use of a 
                telephone, including TTY and TDD services (as defined 
                for purposes of section 483.10 of title 42, Code of 
                Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)), and 
                the internet (to the extent available to the facility) 
                and inform each such resident (or a representative of 
                such resident) of such access and any changes in 
                policies or procedures of such facility relating to 
                limitations on external visitors.''.
    (b) COVID-19 Provisions.--
            (1) Guidance.--Not later than 15 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Service shall issue guidance on steps skilled nursing 
        facilities may take to ensure residents have access to 
        televisitation during the emergency period defined in section 
        1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-
        5(g)(1)(B)). Such guidance shall include information on how 
        such facilities will notify residents of such facilities, 
        representatives of such residents, and relatives of such 
        residents of the rights of such residents to such 
        televisitation, and ensure timely and equitable access to such 
        televisitation.
            (2) Review of facilities.--The Secretary of Health and 
        Human Services shall take such steps as determined appropriate 
        by the Secretary to ensure that residents of skilled nursing 
        facilities and relatives of such residents are made aware of 
        the access rights described in section 1819(c)(3)(F) of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i-3(c)(3)(F)).
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