[NFBWATlk] Legislative Action

Mon Sep 8 17:38:13 UTC 2025

In 2020 an add on to the Medicare bill was to have Telehealth Services covered by Medicare This is an important service for Blind and low vision persons, seniors and individuals with our transportation. This service is due to be expired on September 30. We are asking Congress to make these services permanent. The number is HR 4206. We here in Clallam County need to contact Emily Randall to get her to cosponsor this legislation. I am forwarding the announcement about Telehealth Services in Medicare. It is very important for Her to know that when you call you are from Clallam County. Phone calls are most effective. However emailing is good as well. If you have any questions let me know at 206-419-9555 or at cane.travel at gmail.com <mailto:cane.travel at gmail.com>. 

Denise Mackenstadt

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40149&qid=11620767>
Blind Americans Urge the House of Representatives to Pass the CONNECT for Health Act, H.R. 4206

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. 

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 Resolution 2025-07 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40150&qid=11620767> on this very topic.

How Members Can Help

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. 

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.

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]. 

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. 

Sample Script

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. 

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."

We suggest a subject like: "Please Cosponsor the CONNECT for Health Act, H.R. 4206"

To find the contact information for your specific representative’s 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. 

If you are having trouble finding the contact information for your member of Congress, please contact Lindsey Walsh at lwalsh at nfb.org <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40151&qid=11620767>. If you email, please copy Justin Young at jyoung at nfb.org <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40152&qid=11620767>.

About the National Federation of the Blind

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. 

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 nfb.org <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40153&qid=11620767>.

Government Affairs Contact:

Justin Young
Governmental Affairs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
410-659-9314, extension 2210
jyoung at nfb.org <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40152&qid=11620767>

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