Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2020

Supported the Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act, S. 3917, which would expand telemental health services in rural areas. The bill, S. 3917, would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) in coordination with the Rural Health Liaison of the Department of Agriculture to award grants for home-based telemental health care demonstrations. This new program would increase mental health services in rural medically underserved populations and for individuals in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations. The bill would authorize up to $10 million for each of fiscal year 2020 to 2024 of funds currently available to the Secretary of HHS. HHS would submit a report to Congress during the third and fifth year on the impact and quality of care of home-based telemental health care services. Telemental health is the delivery of mental health services using remote technologies when the patient and provider are separated by distance. This service has the potential to alleviate the lack of mental health services in rural areas and allow rural residents to connect with the mental health professional from the comfort of their home. The recent pandemic, challenging weather, trade disputes, labor shortages and market volatility over the past few years have brought an unprecedented level of pressure on Americas farmers. H.R. 266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. Health Care: The bill provides $100 billion for hospitals and for COVID testing. A summary of the health care provisions is attached. *$75 billion for hospitals and healthcare providers for COVID-19 related expenses and lost revenue. *$25 billion to expand capacity for COVID-19 tests. *$600 million of funding is earmarked for Community Health Centers and $225 million for rural health clinics. Supported legislation to allow the Farm Credit System to make loans for health care and other infrastructure projects in rural America. Access to health care in rural America is on the decline at the same time that the current health care crisis is accelerating the need for more and better-equipped hospitals and medical facilities. According to the National Rural Health Association, 121 rural hospitals have closed since 2010, and in 2019 the U.S. experienced more rural hospital closures than in any other year in the past decade. Expanding the Farm Credit Systems authority help build, upgrade and expand rural facilities will improve health care access and medical services for farmers and their neighbors and strengthen the communities where they live and work.

Client expense: $15,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Transportation, Dept of (DOT)

General advocacy for telehealth, increased support for farmer mental health resources, opioid resources for rural communities, and additional funding for community health centers. Support for: H.R. 4820/S.2599, the Seeding Rural Resilience Act, would help farmers respond to stress and bring mental health resources to rural communities, and S. 3917, the Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2020, would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) in coordination with USDA to award grants designed to increase mental health services in rural medically underserved populations and for individuals in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.

Client expense: $10,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, White House Office

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Association Health Care Plan Community Health Centers S. 2599 and H.R. 4820 (Seeding Rural Resilience Act) SA 1966 to NDAA, the Seeding Rural Resilience Act Support Federal funding for migratory health clinics for agricultural worker health assistance H.R. 7047 - Expedited Grants for FY 2020 S. 3917 - Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2020

Client expense: $860,701 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Interior, Dept of (DOI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), White House Office