Rural Health Care Connectivity Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1916
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2015-08-03
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Health facilities and institutions

Health technology, devices, supplies

Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care

Nursing

Rural conditions and development

Telecommunication rates and fees
Latest action: action_date: 2016-10-27
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 659.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-08-03
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Rural Health Care Connectivity Act of 2015</b></p> <p>Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to include skilled nursing facilities among the types of health care providers who may request from a telecommunications carrier under the Universal Service Fund the necessary telecommunications and information services to serve persons who reside in rural areas at rates that are reasonably comparable to rates charged for similar services in urban areas.</p>

action_date: 2016-10-27
action_desc: Reported to Senate without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</p> <p><b>Rural Health Care Connectivity Act of 2015</b></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to include skilled nursing facilities among the types of health care providers that may request from a telecommunications carrier under the Universal Service Fund the necessary telecommunications and information services to serve persons who reside in rural areas at rates that are reasonably comparable to rates charged for similar services in urban areas.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1916 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 3, 2015 Mr. Thune introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To include skilled nursing facilities as a type of health care provider under section 254(h) of the Communications Act of 1934.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rural Health Care Connectivity Act of 2015 . 2. Telecommunications services for skilled nursing facilities (a) In general Section 254(h)(7)(B) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 254(h)(7)(B) ) is amended— (1) in clause (vi), by striking and at the end; (2) by redesignating clause (vii) as clause (viii); (3) by inserting after clause (vi) the following: (vii) skilled nursing facilities; ; and (4) in clause (viii), as redesignated, by striking clauses (i) through (vi) and inserting clauses (i) through (vii) . (b) Savings clause Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to affect the aggregate annual cap on Federal universal service support for health care providers under section 54.675 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 659 114th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 1916 [Report No. 114–368] IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 3, 2015 Mr. Thune (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Hoeven , and Mrs. Fischer ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation October 27, 2016 Reported under authority of the order of the Senate of September 29, 2016, by Mr. Thune , without amendment A BILL To include skilled nursing facilities as a type of health care provider under section 254(h) of the Communications Act of 1934.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rural Health Care Connectivity Act of 2015 . 2. Telecommunications services for skilled nursing facilities (a) In general Section 254(h)(7)(B) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 254(h)(7)(B) ) is amended— (1) in clause (vi), by striking and at the end; (2) by redesignating clause (vii) as clause (viii); (3) by inserting after clause (vi) the following: (vii) skilled nursing facilities; ; and (4) in clause (viii), as redesignated, by striking clauses (i) through (vi) and inserting clauses (i) through (vii) . (b) Savings clause Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to affect the aggregate annual cap on Federal universal service support for health care providers under section 54.675 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.

October 27, 2016 Reported without amendment