ACCESS Act

Bill: 117-hr-596
Sponsor: Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Family relationships
Government information and archives
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid
Medicare
Nursing
Rural conditions and development
Telecommunication rates and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

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

 
This bill provides funding to increase access to telehealth services and virtual visits in skilled and other nursing facilities during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency. The bill designates the funding as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits.
 
Specifically, the bill provides additional funding for FY2021, to remain available through FY2022, to the Telehealth Resource Center Program to address barriers to telehealth faced by skilled and other nursing facilities. The Office for the Advancement of Telehealth within the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy in the Health Resources and Services Administration manages this program.
 
In addition, the bill provides funding for FY2021, to remain available through one month after the emergency period ends, to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for grants to nursing facilities to support virtual visits for residents during the COVID-19 emergency. HHS must develop relevant guidance for these grants within 15 days. HHS must also coordinate with the Federal Communications Commission to ensure grantees have access to telecommunications and broadband services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in House