Bipartisan legislation would help provide broadband access for skilled nursing facilities
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that he will be visiting skilled nursing facilities across Iowa to discuss his new legislation, H.R. 4111, the Rural Health Care Connectivity Act. This legislation will make skilled nursing facilities eligible to receive funds through the Universal Service Fund’s Rural Healthcare Program. This is a $400 million program that provides discounts for telecommunications services so that rural healthcare providers pay comparable rates to their urban counterparts, and helps expand healthcare provider access to broadband services. The bipartisan legislation, cosponsored by Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ), recently passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee by unanimous consent.
On Monday, May 9th, Loebsack will visit the following locations:
Clinton
Alverno Health Care Facility
849 13th Ave N
1:30pm
Davenport
Senior Star at Elmore Place
4500 Elmore Ave.
3:30pm
Background on the Rural Health Care Connectivity Act
Skilled nursing facilities are an integral part of the healthcare system, particularly in rural areas. Access to broadband at reasonable rates helps them give high quality care to their patients. Many skilled nursing facilities are increasingly dependent on access to broadband, especially if they have little access to hospitals nearby. While many other rural healthcare providers have access to Rural Health Care Program funds, skilled nursing facilities do not. Allowing these facilitates to participate in the Rural Health Care program will help these facilities develop new and innovative technologies and practices, such as tele-health and telemedicine.
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