(a)
In general— The Secretary shall award grants directly to skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities in accordance with this section to support virtual visits by family members and other individuals for residents of such facilities during the COVID–19 public health emergency period.
(b)
Application requirements— A facility seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form and manner, and containing such information as the Secretary shall require.
(c)
Use of funds— A facility awarded a grant under this section may only use the funds for expenditures attributable to obtaining and using—
(1)
technologies to support virtual visits by family members and other individuals for residents of the facility; and
(2)
any other items or services necessary to carry out the purposes for the grant described in subsection (a).
(d)
FCC coordination—
(1)
In general— The Federal Communications Commission (in this subsection referred to as the Commission) shall coordinate with the Secretary in implementing the grant program established under this section.
(2)
Waiver authority— The Commission shall waive such requirements of the Rural Health Care program under subpart G of part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation) as necessary, and for such periods as necessary, to ensure all facilities awarded a grant under this section are able to carry out the purposes for the grant described in subsection (a).
(e)
Limitations—
(1)
Termination of authority— The Secretary shall not award any grants under this section after the end of the COVID–19 public health emergency period.
(2)
Supplement, not supplant— Federal funds paid to a skilled nursing facility or a nursing facility pursuant to this section must be used to supplement, but not supplant, any other Federal, State, or local funds available to the facility that may be used for a purpose specified in subsection (c).
(f)
Guidance— Not later than 15 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue guidance, created in consultation with appropriate skilled nursing facility and nursing home resident advocate stakeholders, on steps facilities awarded grants under this section shall take to ensure residents of such facilities have access to virtual visitation during the COVID–19 public health emergency period and how such access shall be facilitated by such facilities. Such guidance shall include options for how such facilities will ensure notification of residents and resident representatives of such virtual visitation access and facilitation, address how adequate support will be provided to residents to facilitate virtual visitation, address how facilities will ensure or enable installation and access to a device purchased for the use or benefit of individual or multiple facility residents, and address operational issues and avoid unnecessary barriers to timely deployment of virtual visitation.
(g)
Report— Not later than 30 days after the end of the COVID–19 public health emergency period, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the grants awarded under this section.
(h)
Appropriation— There are appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2021 from any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as are necessary to carry out this section, to remain through the last day of the month following the month in which the COVID–19 public health emergency period ends.