NRSE6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health – Week 4 Assignment: Legislation Comparison Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement
NRSE6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health – Week 4 Assignment: Legislation Comparison Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Legislation Grid and Advocacy Statement
Legislation Grid
Health-related Bill
Name
Advancing Connectivity during the Coronavirus to Ensure
Support for Seniors (ACCESS) Act
Bill Number S. 3517
Description This is a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Congressman Peter King (R-NY) during the 116th Congress on 10th April, 2020.
The aim of the bill is to expand telehealth services and
infrastructure in nursing facilities to allow virtual visitation and consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal or State Federal
Legislative Intent Unfortunately, residents of long-term care homes now experience feelings of social isolation and loneliness as a result of the protective measures put in place to safeguard the elderly and vulnerable from COVID-19. The purpose of this legislation is to improve funding for long-term care facilities’ telehealth initiatives for the elderly and vulnerable members of our community. Through virtual visitation, they will be able to be connected to their loved ones while still being protected from COVID-19. The residents of long-term care institutions will be able to obtain medical care through virtual consultations from doctors without risking their health if telehealth access is increased.
Proponents/ Opponents Proponents: This bill is expected to be widely supported across the political divide as it is co-sponsored by Democrats and
Republicans. Unfortunately, the safeguards put in place to protect the elderly and vulnerable from COVID-19 have led to an increase in social isolation and loneliness among those residing in long-term care facilities. The goal of this bill is to ensure that vulnerable seniors and the elderly have access to high-quality telehealth services in long-term care institutions. They can still keep in touch with loved ones while being safe from COVID-19 because to the convenience of virtual visits. An expansion in telehealth access will allow residents of long-term care facilities to safely get medical care from doctors via virtual consultations.
Favorers and Detractors
Proponents: Since both Democrats and Republicans are backing this legislation, it is likely to receive bipartisan support.
No major opponents have so far come to counter the bill
Target Population Nursing facilities, long-term care facilities and residents of
nursing/ long-term care facilities
Status of the bill The bill was introduced to the 16TH Congress on 10th April, 2020 and has been read twice. The bill is currently in committee stage where it will be thoroughly examined before being passed to a subcommittee.
Outside of the Congress, the bill has received multiple endorsements from various groups like the Long-Term Care Community Coalition, the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, AARP and the Center for Medicare Advocacy. The media has received media coverage and it has been acclaimed as a progressive legislature that will protect the sick
and the vulnerable in our society
General Notes/Comments The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released guidelines to long-term care facilities and nursing homes to facilitate alternative means of communication between residents and their families and loved ones. The guidelines restrict visitation of all non-essential personnel, and encourage consultation and visitation via telehealth and digital communication platforms. However, this is only feasible in facilities that have finances to install the necessary technology and infrastructure. Majority of nursing homes are cash stripped and have not been able to implement alternative methods of
communication. This proposed bill will fill this gap by General Remarks/Observations The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have issued guidelines for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to help people stay in touch with their relatives and friends. The recommendations discourage in-person consultations and visits from anyone who is not an immediate family member or close friend, and instead advocate the use of telehealth and other digital communication channels. However, this may only be done in establishments with sufficient funds to install the required apparatus. Majority of nursing homes are cash stripped and have not been able to implement alternative methods of communication. Because of this, the proposed legislation seeks to
appropriating $50 million to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Telehealth Resource Center Program to expand telehealth infrastructure and services in long-term care
facilities.
Advocacy Statement
I fervently support Bill S. 3517, “Advancing Connectivity during the Coronavirus to Ensure Support for Seniors Act” or ACCESS Act. Across the country, thousands of residents in nursing care facilities plummet in fear, loneliness, and social isolation due to stringent COVID-19 containment measures. Families have not had a chance to say good-bye to their beloved grandparents due to visitation restrictions. What promised to be golden sunset years surrounded by family and loved ones have turned to desolate days filled with misery and sorrow.
Studies have proved that older people are susceptible to develop COVID-19 in its most intense form, leading to increased morbidity and mortality in this age group (McArthur et al., 2021; Monaghesh & Hajizadeh, 2020). In the interest of public health and the protection of the vulnerable in society, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services set guidelines to restrict visitation by non-personnel workers to reduce nursing care residents’ exposure to the coronavirus. Instead, the agencies urged family visitation and medical consultation to be done virtually. These lockdown containment measures have inadvertently led to social isolation and increased risk for adverse psychological effects among long-term care residents (McArthur et al., 2021).
The ACCESS Act aims to solve this by increasing investments in telehealth programs to facilitate virtual visitations and consultations. Under the ACCESS Act, the
Telehealth Resource Center of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy or the Office for the advancement of Telehealth will provide regulatory, technical, and legal
support to nursing care facilities. The Act will also authorize a supplementary budget of 50 million to increase access to remote healthcare and facilitate socialization with families and loved ones.
The bill’s primary opponents claim that the current federal allocation to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Telehealth Resource Center Program is enough to expand telehealth infrastructure and services in long-term care facilities. This cannot be further from the truth. Most long-term care facilities are run on state and private donations and are not profit-making entities. As such, a sudden budgetary need to expand technological infrastructure strains their cash-flow. The ACCESS Act solves this by appropriating $50 million to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Telehealth Resource Center Program to expand telehealth infrastructure and services in long- term care facilities.
At the surface level, this might look like a hefty price to pay for something as simple as visitations to a nursing care facility. But the cost of allowing physical visitations to the nursing homes or choosing to isolate the residents from the world ultimately will have far worse medical and psychological ramifications. To ensure that the funds go to the neediest nursing care facilities, the agencies in charge of the bill’s execution need to ensure that a fair allocation formula is created.
In closing, I hope this advocacy statement has inspired you to take a stand and protect our society’s most vulnerable by supporting the ACCESS Act that seeks to expand telehealth care connectivity in nursing and long-term facilities.
References
McArthur, C., Saari, M., Heckman, G. A., Wellens, N., Weir, J., Hebert, P., Turcotte, L., Jbilou, J., & Hirdes, J. P. (2021). Evaluating the Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on Long-Term Care Residents’ Mental Health: A Data-Driven Approach in New Brunswick. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 22(1), 187–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2020.10.028
Monaghesh, E., & Hajizadeh, A. (2020). The role of telehealth during COVID-19 outbreak: A systematic review based on current evidence. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1193. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09301-4
As a nurse, how often have you thought to yourself, If I had anything to do about it, things would work a little differently? Increasingly, nurses are beginning to realize that they do, in fact, have a role and a voice.NRSE6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health – Week 4 Assignment: Legislation Comparison Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Many nurses encounter daily experiences that motivate them to take on an advocacy role in hopes of impacting policies, laws, or regulations that impact healthcare issues of interest. Of course, doing so means entering the less familiar world of policy and politics. While many nurses do not initially feel prepared to operate in this space effectively, the reward is the opportunity to shape and influence future health policy.
To Prepare:
Select a bill that has been proposed (not one that has been enacted) using the congressional websites provided in the Learning Resources.
The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Comparison Grid; 1- to 2-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement)
Part 1: Legislation Comparison Grid
Based on the health-related bill (proposed, not enacted) you selected, complete the Legislation Comparison Grid Template. Be sure to address the following:
Determine the legislative intent of the bill you have reviewed.
Identify the proponents/opponents of the bill.
Identify the target populations addressed by the bill.
Where in the process is the bill currently? Is it in hearings or committees?
Is it receiving press coverage?
Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Based on the health-related bill you selected, develop a 1- to 2-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement that addresses the following:
Advocate a position for the bill you selected and write testimony in support of your position.
Describe how you would address the opponent to your position. Be specific and provide examples.
Recommend at least one amendment to the bill in support of your position.
By Day 7 of Week 4
Submit your completed legislation comparison grid and testimony/advocacy statement.
Submission and Grading Information
To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:
I need help writing my essay – research paper save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK4Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
Click the Week 4 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
Click the Week 4 Assignment link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK4Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.
