SLO Assemblyman introduces bill to increase veterans’ access to VA Telehealth
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Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo) announced that he has introduced a bill to increase veterans’ access to telehealth.
Under California’s landmark net neutrality law (SB 822-Wiener, 2018), Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are prohibited from favoring one application over another. This prohibition means that ISPs cannot legally allow veterans to have free, unlimited and uncapped access to the Veterans Affairs telehealth application.
AB 1669 would exempt the #Veterans Affairs telehealth application from California’s net neutrality law, thereby allowing wireless carriers to exempt it from a user’s monthly data allowance.
“The pandemic required healthcare providers to become more nimble and accessible in order to treat their patients,” said Cunningham. “This bill would help solidify the gains we’ve made in increasing access to care, and allow our veterans to obtain care without fear of going over their data caps and facing additional fees.”
The bill is supported by the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, a Central Coast organization dedicated to helping individuals achieve self-sufficiency through community-based collaborations and programs.
“CAPSLO is pleased to support Assemblyman Cunningham’s bill to support telehealth visits for our veterans at no cost.” said Elizabeth Steinberg, CAPSLO’s CEO
