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Advocates urge device loans, ASL and immigrant protections for remote monitoring rollout
Summary
Disability and family‑justice advocates urged the committee to require accessible RPM platforms, device loans or subsidies, in‑home tech support, ASL and translation, and outreach to mixed‑status families to avoid creating new disparities if RPM is covered by Medicaid.
Advocates who testified on both bills emphasized that authorizing Medicaid coverage for RPM is only the first step; implementation must address access barriers so the service reaches people with the greatest need.
Chioma Ryu of Advocates for Justice and Education told the committee that families reported barriers during the pandemic such as lack of smartphones, unreliable broadband, platforms that are not accessible for ASL or cognitive disabilities, and lack of tech help. "So to make the bill more effective, we recommend that they add in device loans or subsidies, in‑home or virtual tech support, accessible platforms with ASL, captions and multilingual options, a dedicated helpline," she said.
Witnesses also urged local outreach to mixed‑status families to avoid chilling effects from misconceptions about public benefits and immigration consequences. The committee asked staff to consider accessibility and equity measures when drafting operational rules or amendments.
