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HR 6855 116th Congress House Health Cardiovascular and respiratory health Emergency medical services and trauma care Family relationships Health facilities and institutions Hearing, speech, and vision care Infectious and parasitic diseases Internet and video services Internet, web applications, social media Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care Medicare Nursing Telephone and wireless communication

Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2020

Introduced: May 13, 2020 Introduced by: Sánchez, Linda T. Democratic · California See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 13, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
May 13, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2020

This bill provides statutory authority for certain requirements with respect to the rights of residents in Medicare skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Specifically, the bill requires SNFs to provide residents with reasonable access to a telephone and the internet and to inform residents of such access and of any policy changes regarding external visitors.

Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must issue guidance to help SNFs ensure that residents have access to televisitation during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).

What's happening now May 13, 2020

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 6379 Related bill Workforce Emergency Response Act of 2020
  • HR 6800 Related bill The Heroes Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6855: Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2020. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6855/
MLA
"H.R. 6855: Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2020." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6855/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6855, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6855/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6855: Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2020](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6855/)
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