Home Visiting Resiliency in Pandemics Act

Bill: 116-hr-6865
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
Introduced: 2020-05-14
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Appropriations

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Child health

Cosmetics and personal care

Department of Health and Human Services

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Executive agency funding and structure

Food assistance and relief

Health care costs and insurance

Health programs administration and funding

Health technology, devices, supplies

Home and outpatient care

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Women's health
Latest action: action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-05-14
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Home Visiting Resiliency in Pandemics Act</b></p> <p>This bill provides funding for, and temporarily makes changes to program requirements of, the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. During the period beginning on February 1, 2020, and ending January 31, 2021, the bill allows for virtual home visits; prohibits reductions in funding for, or staffing of, entities that implement the home visits due to reduced enrollment of families in the program; and expands the permitted uses of program funds to include, among others, providing families with resources to support their participation in virtual visits. </p> <p>The bill also authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to delay deadlines for requirements of the home visiting programs. </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6865 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 14, 2020 Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois (for himself and Ms. Castor of Florida ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means , and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , 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 A BILL To provide emergency assistance to families through home visiting programs in response to the COVID–19 pandemic.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Home Visiting Resiliency in Pandemics Act . 2. Emergency assistance to families through home visiting programs (a) In general For purposes of section 511 of the Social Security Act, during the period that begins on February 1, 2020, and ends January 31, 2021— (1) a virtual home visit shall be considered a home visit; (2) funding for, and staffing levels of, a program conducted pursuant to such section shall not be reduced on account of reduced enrollment in the program; and (3) funds provided for such a program may be used— (A) to train home visitors in conducting a virtual home visit and in emergency preparedness and response planning for families served; (B) for the acquisition by families enrolled in the program of such technological means as are needed to conduct and support a virtual home visit; (C) to provide emergency supplies (such as diapers, formula, non-perishable food, water, hand soap and hand sanitizer) to families served; and (D) to provide prepaid debit cards to an eligible family (as defined in section 511(k)(2) of such Act) for the purpose of enabling the family to meet the emergency needs of the family. (b) Virtual home visit defined In subsection (a), the term virtual home visit means a visit that is conducted solely by electronic means. (c) Authority To delay deadlines (1) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services may extend the deadline by which a requirement of section 511 of the Social Security Act must be met, by such period of time as the Secretary deems appropriate. (2) Guidance The Secretary shall provide to eligible entities funded under section 511 of the Social Security Act information on the parameters used in extending a deadline under paragraph (1) of this subsection. (d) Supplemental appropriation In addition to amounts otherwise appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services $100,000,000, to enable eligible entities to conduct programs funded under section 511 of the Social Security Act pursuant to this section, which shall remain available for obligation not later than January 31, 2021.