<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> National Federation of the Blind <webmaster@nfb.org><br><b>Date:</b> September 4, 2025 at 3:04:31\u202fPM PDT<br><b>To:</b> NFBCA Bay Area Chapter - INACTIVE <shannonldillon@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Legislative Alert: Medicare Telehealth Benefits</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> Bounces+r.25310.11622697.39244a74f74354bb@mailings.nfb.org<br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<!--[if gte mso 9]>
<xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml>
<![endif]-->
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="height:20px"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="vertical-align:top">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:600px">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none">
<table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:#0075c9; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none; height:10px; text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:100%">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:transparent; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none"><img alt="" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/top-blue-bar.jpg" style="background-color:#0075c9; border-color:currentcolor; border-style:solid; border-width:0px; display:block; height:28px; margin:0px; width:600px"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none">
<table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none; height:10px; text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:100%">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:transparent; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40149&qid=11622697" rel="nofollow"><img alt="National Federation of the Blind logo and tagline live the life you want" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/nfb-logo-for-email-template.jpg" style="background-color:transparent; border-color:currentcolor; border-style:solid; border-width:0px; display:block; height:220px; margin:0px; width:200px"></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none">
<table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="height:145px; width:600px">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:#ffffff; border-color:initial; border-style:none; border-width:medium; height:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; width:100%">
<h1><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt; color:black;">Blind Americans Urge the House of Representatives to Pass the CONNECT for Health Act, H.R. 4206</span></h1>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges the members of the House of Representatives to support and pass the CONNECT for Health Act, H.R. 4206. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">This bill will make permanent the expanded Medicare telehealth coverages that were first introduced in 2020 and have been temporarily extended over the past couple of years, with the most recent extension set to expire on September 30. Just a couple of months ago at our national convention, we passed <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40150&qid=11622697" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Resolution 2025-07</a> on this very topic.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; color:black;">How Members Can Help</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Earlier this year, on March 5, President Riccobono wrote a letter to all members of Congress urging them to pass legislation that would make the expanded Medicare telehealth benefits permanent. Then in April, Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii introduced the CONNECT for Health Act in the Senate with nearly sixty originating cosponsors. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Just a couple of months later in June, Representative Mike Thompson of California introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives, which at the time of this writing has only nineteen cosponsors.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Those nineteen cosponsors are: David Schweikert [AZ-1], Nanette Diaz Barragan [CA-44], Young Kim [CA-40], Doris O. Matsui [CA-7], Sarah McBride [DE-At Large], Eleanor Holmes Norton [DC-At Large], Ed Case [HI-1], Jill N. Tokuda [HI-2], Nikki Budzinski [IL-13], Raja Krishnamoorthi [IL-8], Don Bacon [NE-2], Josh Gottheimer [NJ-5], Yvette D. Clarke [NY-9], Ritchie Torres [NY-15], Troy Balderson [OH-12], Greg Landsman [OH-1], Steve Cohen [TN-9], Jennifer L. McClellan [VA-4], Suhas Subramanyam [VA-10]. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Given that the Senate version of the bill already has significant cosponsor support, including from Majority Leader Thune, we are going to focus our advocacy on increasing support in the House by asking you to call or email your Representative if they do not appear on the above list. </span></p>
<h3 style="color:1b5633"><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; "><font color="1b5633">Sample Script</font></span></h3>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">When you call or email you might say: "My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to support the CONNECT for Health Act, H.R. 4206. This bill will make permanent Medicare telehealth benefits that have been temporarily extended numerous times since 2020. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Making these telehealth benefits permanent will significantly reduce the travel burden on blind Americans who live in rural areas and may have difficulty securing reliable transportation for regular physician visits. Please cosponsor H.R. 4206. Thank you."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">We suggest a subject like: "Please Cosponsor the CONNECT for Health Act, H.R. 4206"</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">To find the contact information for your specific representative\u2019s office, please use the attached spreadsheet. It is organized alphabetically by state. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">If you are having trouble finding the contact information for your member of Congress, please contact Lindsey Walsh at <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40151&qid=11622697" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">lwalsh@nfb.org</a>. If you email, please copy Justin Young at <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40152&qid=11622697" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">jyoung@nfb.org</a>.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; color:black;">About the National Federation of the Blind</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40153&qid=11622697" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">nfb.org</a>.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; color:black;">Government Affairs Contact:</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Justin Young<br>
Governmental Affairs Specialist<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
410-659-9314, extension 2210<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40152&qid=11622697" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">jyoung@nfb.org</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="height:8px"> </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center" style="background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto; width:600px"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 60px;"> <td style="width:135px;"> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40154&qid=11622697" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Facebook Logo" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-facebook-ms.png"> </a> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40155&qid=11622697" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Twitter Logo" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-twitter-ms.png">
</a> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40156&qid=11622697" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Instagram Logo" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-instagram-ms.png"></a> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40157&qid=11622697" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="YouTube Logo" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-youtube-ms.png"></a> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40158&qid=11622697" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Email Icon Image" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-email-ms.png"></a> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40159&qid=11622697" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Donate to the NFB Icon." src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-donte-ms.png" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: currentcolor; display: block; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; width: 50px; height: 35px;"> </a> </td> <td style="width:135px"> </td> </tr> <tr style="color: white; height: 25px;"> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold">
National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 25px;"> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=25310&qid=11622697&h=39244a74f74354bb" title="Unsubscribe" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold">Unsubscribe from this mailing list</a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=25310&qid=11622697&h=39244a74f74354bb" title="Opt Out" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
font-weight: bold">Opt out of all mailing lists</a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40160&qid=11622697" rel="nofollow" title="Sign up for email newsletter" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold">Sign up for our newsletter</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="display: none; color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold"> <div class="location vcard"><span class="adr"><span class="street-address">200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place</span><br><span class="locality">Baltimore</span>, <span class="region">MD</span> <span class="postal-code">21230</span><br><span class="country-name">United States</span></span></div>.. </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAJEAAP///wAAAAAAAAAAACH5BAkAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAgEAAEEBAA7" width="1" height="1" alt="Web Bug from https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/open?qid=11622697" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAJEAAP///wAAAAAAAAAAACH5BAkAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAgEAAEEBAA7" width="1" height="1" alt="Web Bug from https://u32452178.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/open?upn=u001.n7dExXXkrFBBMWeymBHRLS4OaYGiSsJsvWhJYoqyME4pEfvm3kMZuHUnSvmsCYEtwgJc8IlJyN1D2S5RFZkLI4trT6kv-2B6lWuPFW467i6xA79HnVB0ht63gFVwy2iOBfdu4QeVbZm6q0NPpkdN-2Fr-2FFe3q-2BJewM7xiEeyuXKPqc42yBsNZofsTVcUVnwcK1gPXrhSsa9BJhtpBwpVSWVRrGwfbs7CmGctDHaqg9SnVtU-3D" /></div></blockquote></body></html>