VA Telehealth Expansion Act
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award grants to entities for the expansion of telehealth capabilities and provision of telehealth services to veterans through the VA and the Veterans Community Care Program. The VA must give preference to entities that represent veterans in rural or highly rural areas or entities that operate in a medically underserved community.
An entity seeking to establish a telehealth access point for veterans without grant funding is authorized to enter into an agreement with the VA to establish such access point.
The VA must assess and report on the barriers veterans face in accessing telehealth services.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7879 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7879
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant
program to expand and improve the provision of telehealth services to
veterans.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 30, 2020
Mrs. Lee of Nevada (for herself, Mr. Banks, Mr. Steil, and Ms. Torres
Small of New Mexico) introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant
program to expand and improve the provision of telehealth services to
veterans.
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 ``VA Telehealth Expansion Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM TO EXPAND TELEHEALTH FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into
partnerships, and expand existing partnerships, with entities that
represent or serve veterans, nonprofit organizations, private
businesses, and other interested parties for the expansion of
telehealth capabilities and the provision of telehealth services to
veterans through the award of grants under subsection (c). Such
telehealth services shall be provided by health care providers of the
Department of Veterans Affairs or through the Veterans Community Care
Program under section 1703 of title 38, United States Code.
(b) Preference.--When selecting entities with which to enter into
or to expand a partnership under subsection (a), the Secretary shall
give preference to entities that--
(1) represent veterans in rural or highly rural areas (as
determined through the use of the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas
coding system of the Department of Agriculture); or
(2) operate in a medically underserved community (as
defined in section 799B of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 295p)).
(c) Award of Grants.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out partnerships entered into
or expanded under this section with entities described in
subsection (a), the Secretary shall award grants to those
entities.
(2) Maximum amount of grants.--The amount of a grant
awarded under this subsection may not exceed $75,000 in one
year.
(3) Use of grants.--
(A) In general.--Grants awarded to an entity under
this subsection may be used for one or more of the
following:
(i) Purchasing or upgrading hardware or
software necessary for the provision of secure
and private telehealth services.
(ii) Upgrading security protocols for
consistency with the security requirements of
the Department.
(iii) Training of employees, including
payment of those employees for completing that
training, with respect to--
(I) military and veteran cultural
competence, if the entity is not an
organization that represents veterans;
(II) appropriate processes for
handling emergencies that occur during
telehealth;
(III) equipment required to provide
telehealth services; or
(IV) any other unique training
needs for the provision of telehealth
services to veterans.
(iv) Upgrading existing infrastructure
owned or leased by the entity to make rooms
more conducive to telehealth care, including--
(I) additions or modifications to
windows or walls in an existing room,
or other alterations as needed to
create a new, private room;
(II) soundproofing of an existing
room;
(III) new electrical or internet
outlets in an existing room; or
(IV) aesthetic or other
enhancements to establish a more
suitable therapeutic environment.
(v) Upgrading existing infrastructure to
comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).
(vi) Upgrading infrastructure or internet
services.
(B) Exclusion.--Grants may not be used for the
purchase of new property or for major construction
projects, as determined by the Secretary.
(d) Agreement on Telehealth Access Points.--
(1) In general.--An entity described in subsection (a) that
seeks to establish a telehealth access point for veterans but
does not require grant funding under this section to do so may
enter into an agreement with the Department for the
establishment of such an access point.
(2) Inspection to determine adequacy of facilities.--The
Secretary shall inspect any such access point to determine
whether the access point is private, secure, and accessible to
veterans.
(e) Assessment of Barriers to Access.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete an
assessment of barriers faced by veterans in accessing
telehealth services.
(2) Elements.--The assessment required by paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
(A) An assessment of current and potential future
barriers, including--
(i) cost;
(ii) access to broadband internet
infrastructure and technology;
(iii) digital competency; and
(iv) discrimination (including cultural,
language, or medical discrimination).
(B) A description of how the Secretary plans to
address the barriers described in subparagraph (A).
(C) Such other matters related access by veterans
to telehealth while not on property of the Department
the Secretary determines relevant.
(3) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the completion
of the assessment required by paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report on the assessment, including any
recommendations for legislative or administrative action based
on the results of the assessment.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Committee Hearings Held.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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