NR 451 Week 3 Healthcare Policy

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-451: RN Capstone Course

Prof. Name

Date

NR 451 Week 3 Healthcare Policy

Healthcare Access – Telehealth Services & Technology

This presentation explores the selected healthcare policy bill, providing a comprehensive summary and analysis. It evaluates the potential influence of the legislation on professional nursing practice standards if enacted and considers the possible consequences if it is not approved. Additionally, the discussion examines how the bill could affect my own nursing practice, strategies for effective communication with legislators and peers regarding the bill, and possible concerns related to its implementation. Finally, the overall impact of the bill on the broader community will be assessed.

Health Care Policy Bill

Bill Name: ACCESS Act (Assuring Care for Seniors through Services) or Support for Seniors Act
Bill Number: H.R. 596 – 117th Congress – 1st Session

Titles under the Bill:

The ACCESS Act (H.R. 596) was introduced to improve telehealth capacity in nursing facilities, especially during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The bill has three major components: supplemental appropriations, definitions related to telehealth, and emergency designations for funding.

Bill Summary

The ACCESS Act focuses on improving healthcare connectivity for vulnerable populations, especially seniors in skilled nursing facilities. By allocating emergency funds, it strengthens telehealth infrastructure and enables virtual visits. Importantly, the bill expands funding for the Telehealth Resource Center Program, overseen by the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth within the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.

Additionally, the legislation supports grants to nursing facilities to facilitate virtual visits for residents. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for guiding the use of grants, while the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ensures broadband and telecommunications access, reducing barriers to virtual care.

Impact of Bill on Professional Nursing Practice Standards – If Passed

If enacted, the bill would substantially transform nursing practice by:

• Providing emergency funding for telehealth adoption.

• Expanding patient access to virtual visits.

• Increasing staff training opportunities in digital health.

• Encouraging collaboration across care teams.

• Reducing risks of infection transmission by limiting in-person contact.

• Enhancing continuity of care for patients with chronic illnesses.

Telehealth integration would empower nurses to deliver quality care remotely, resulting in earlier diagnoses, better chronic disease management, and reduced costs. Furthermore, the adoption of telenursing allows nurses to monitor patients from diverse locations, ensuring equitable access and improved satisfaction.

Impact of Bill on Professional Nursing Practice Standards – If Not Passed

Failure to enact the ACCESS Act could have negative implications for nursing and patient care. These include:

The absence of telehealth services may widen healthcare disparities, particularly for older adults and rural populations.

Impact of Bill on My Nursing Practice

For my personal nursing practice, the ACCESS Act would have several benefits:

• Reduced exposure to infections during pandemics.

• Improved opportunities for team collaboration.

• Enhanced real-time monitoring of patients.

• Streamlined prescription and follow-up services.

• Ability to provide care remotely, ensuring continuity during emergencies.

With telehealth advancements, nurses can engage in preventive care, foster stronger nurse-patient relationships, and maintain high-quality care while minimizing unnecessary hospital visits.

Communication Strategies for Legislators

Effective communication with policymakers is crucial to secure support for the ACCESS Act. Recommended strategies include:

• Establishing clear agendas and evidence-based goals.

• Submitting a policy proposal letter backed by research and statistics.

• Requesting scheduled meetings with legislators.

• Using assertive communication to highlight risks if the bill is not passed.

• Presenting both advantages and challenges of the bill.

• Conducting follow-up communication to reinforce advocacy.

These approaches strengthen the case for passing the legislation by linking evidence to real-world healthcare needs.

Communication Strategies for Peers

When discussing the bill with colleagues, the following strategies can be effective:

• Evaluating telehealth’s impact on quality, equity, and satisfaction.

• Presenting case studies demonstrating the effectiveness of telehealth.

• Encouraging peer-led discussions on shared challenges.

• Creating an environment for inclusive dialogue.

• Promoting knowledge-sharing platforms within nursing teams.

By engaging peers, nurses can collectively advocate for legislative changes that advance patient-centered care.

Some Concerns

While telehealth offers significant advantages, it also presents challenges.

Mitigating these risks requires strong compliance frameworks, investment in security systems, and structured training programs for nurses.

Impact of Bill on Community

If enacted, the bill could positively transform community healthcare by:

• Promoting culturally competent care.

• Strengthening trust between healthcare providers and patients.

• Expanding access in rural and underserved areas.

• Enabling telepharmacy and home monitoring services.

• Supporting vulnerable populations during crises.

Telehealth ensures continuity of care while reducing inequities in healthcare access, thus contributing to overall public health improvement.

References

AlDossary, S., Martin-Khan, M., Bradford, N., Armfield, N., & Smith, A. (2017). The development of a telemedicine planning framework based on needs assessment. Journal of Medical Systems, 41(5). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-017-0709-4

GovTrack.us. (2021). H.R. 596 — 117th Congress: ACCESS Act. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr596

Harris, K., Sithole, A., & Kibirige, J. (2017). A needs assessment for the adoption of next generation science standards (NGSS) in K-12 education in the United States. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 5(9), 54. https://doi.org/10.11114/jets.v5i9.2576

Hsieh, P. (2016). An empirical investigation of patients’ acceptance and resistance toward the health cloud: The dual factor perspective. Computers in Human Behavior, 63, 959–969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.06.029

Keenan, J., Rahman, R., & Hudson, J. (2021). Exploring the acceptance of telehealth within palliative care: A self-determination theory perspective. Health and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12553-021-00535-9

Mars, M. (2020). Medicolegal, ethical, and regulatory guidelines pertaining to telehealth. In Fundamentals of Telemedicine and Telehealth (pp. 297–303). https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-814309-4.00013-6

Mason, M. (2020). Updates on current federal telehealth legislation – National Health Council. National Health Council. https://nationalhealthcouncil.org/blog/updates-on-current-federal-telehealth-legislation/

Morrison, L. (2020). Assessing part-time nursing faculty needs: A needs assessment for a quality improvement project. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 15(1), 42–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2019.08.011

Nigam, S. (2018). Telehealth and telemedicine: Clinical and regulatory issues. Telehealth and Medicine Today, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.30953/tmt.v1.69

Paradis, M., Atkinson, K., Hui, C., Ponka, D., Manuel, D., & Day, P. et al. (2018). Immunization and technology among newcomers: A needs assessment survey for a vaccine-tracking app. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 14(7), 1660–1664. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2018.1445449