Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-727
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
Introduced: 2021-02-02
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Family relationships

Health facilities and institutions

Hearing, speech, and vision care

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care

Medicare

Nursing

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2021-02-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-02
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act of </b><b>2021</b></p> <p>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. </p> <p>Additionally, the Centers for Medicare &amp; 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). </p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 727 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 2, 2021 Ms. Sánchez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2021 . 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) ).