Telehealth Bills Considered by Congress
Several telehealth bills have been circulating over recent weeks, including the CONNECT for Health Act of 2021, sponsored by Sen. Schatz (D-HI); Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act, sponsored by Sen. Manchin (D-WV), Sen. Ernst (R-IA), Sen. Sheheen (D-NH), and Sen. Moran (R-KS); Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act of 2021, sponsored by Rep. Cheney (R-WY) and Rep. Dinell (D-MI); and Permanency for Audio-Only Telehealth Act, sponsored by Rep. Smith (R-MO) and Rep. Gottheimer (D-NJ).
Click here to view a table summarizing the telehealth bills and how they would affect health centers.
Appropriations Bill Including Health Center Funding Advances
The House Appropriations Committee approved the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill this week. Democrats and Republicans continue to disagree on the maximum amount of the funding package and the lack of inclusion of the Hyde Amendment which bans the use of federal funds to pay for abortions. The legislation includes $1.8 billion for the health center program, an increase of $148 million from FY21. Within that increase, $50 million would go to School-Based Health Centers, $25 million would establish the Alcee Hastings Cancer Screening Program, and $50 million would go towards the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative. House Democrats are expected to introduce a "minibus" bill that would combine 7 out of 12 appropriations bills, including the LHHS-Ed bill, before the August recess. |
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