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HR 727 117th Congress House

Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2021

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure communications accessibility for residents of skilled nursing facilities during the COVID-19 emergency period.

Introduced: February 2, 2021 Introduced by: Sánchez, Linda T. Democratic · California See on congress.gov
Health Cardiovascular and respiratory healthEmergency medical services and trauma careFamily relationshipsHealth facilities and institutions
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Hearing, speech, and vision careInfectious and parasitic diseasesInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaLong-term, rehabilitative, and terminal careMedicareNursingTelephone and wireless communication
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 2, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Feb 2, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 2, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
Feb 2, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 2, 2021

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2021

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).

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 727: Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-727/
MLA
"H.R. 727: Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-727/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 727, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-727/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 727: Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-727/)
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