Capito Leads Bill to Increase Seniors' Telehealth Access During COVID-19

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., led filing of the Advancing Connectivity during the Coronavirus to Ensure Support for Seniors (Access) Act in a bid to increase senior citizens’ access to telehealth during COVID-19. The bill would make a $50 million emergency appropriation for the Department of Health and Human Services’ Telehealth Resource Center for nursing facilities receiving Medicare and Medicaid, Capito’s office said Monday. The measure would establish an HHS grant program to help enable nursing facility residents’ participation in “virtual visits” with loved ones while the health risk of in-person visits remains high. Two Democratic senators are co-sponsors: Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.