April 21, 2020
The Honorable Jan Schakowsky
2367 Rayburn House Office building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative Schakowsky:
On behalf of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare’s millions of members and supporters, I write to endorse H.R. 6487, the Advancing Connectivity during the Coronavirus to Ensure Support for Seniors (ACCESS) Act.
Your bill would provide an emergency supplemental appropriation of $50 million to the Department of Health and Human Services to assist nursing homes expand their use of telehealth services. The ACCESS Act also establishes a grant program to allow nursing home residents to participate in virtual visits.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing home residents must not be socially isolated. Family members need to check on residents to monitor any problems that may arise with their care while nursing homes restrict visitor access.
The ACCESS Act is a commonsense bill that will help keep residents of nursing homes who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 connected to the outside world while their facilities remain under lockdown. The National Committee therefore strongly endorses your bill.
Sincerely,
Max Richtman
President and CEO