[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2725 Introduced in House (IH)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2725

  To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to expand the use of 
telehealth under the TRICARE program and in the Department of Veterans 
                    Affairs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 10, 2015

     Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Honda, Mr. Polis, and Mr. Jones) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
                        the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to expand the use of 
telehealth under the TRICARE program and in the Department of Veterans 
                    Affairs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century Care for Military and 
Veterans Act''.

SEC. 2. TELEHEALTH UNDER TRICARE PROGRAM.

    (a) Care Provided at Military Medical Treatment Facilities.--
Section 1077 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g) In providing health care to a covered beneficiary under 
section 1076 of this title at a military medical treatment facility, 
the Secretary may furnish an item or service to the covered beneficiary 
via a telecommunications system.''.
    (b) Care Provided at Private Facilities.--
            (1) Certain dependents.--Section 1079 of title 10, United 
        States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(q)(1) An item or service furnished to a covered beneficiary via 
a telecommunications system shall be covered by a plan described in 
paragraph (2) to the same extent the item or service would be covered 
if furnished in the same location of the covered beneficiary, and 
benefits shall not be denied under such a plan solely on the basis that 
the item or service is being furnished via a telecommunications system. 
For the purposes of reimbursement, licensure, professional liability, 
and other purposes under this section with respect to the provision of 
telehealth services, practitioners, suppliers, and providers of such 
services are considered to be furnishing such services at their 
location and not at the originating site.
    ``(2) A plan described in this paragraph is a plan for which the 
Secretary enters into a contract under subsection (a) to provide 
dependents with medical care.''.
            (2) Certain members and former members.--Section 1086 of 
        title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
        the following new subsection:
    ``(i)(1) An item or service furnished to a covered beneficiary via 
a telecommunications system shall be covered by a plan described in 
paragraph (2) to the same extent the item or service would be covered 
if furnished in the same location of the covered beneficiary, and 
benefits shall not be denied under such a plan solely on the basis that 
the item or service is being furnished via a telecommunications system. 
For the purposes of reimbursement, licensure, professional liability, 
and other purposes under this section with respect to the provision of 
telehealth services, practitioners, suppliers, and providers of such 
services are considered to be furnishing such services at their 
location and not at the originating site.
    ``(2) A plan described in this paragraph is a plan for which the 
Secretary enters into a contract under subsection (a) to provide 
persons covered by subsection (c) with health benefits.''.

SEC. 3. HEALTH CARE PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1709A the following 
new section:
``Sec. 1709B. Provision of health care via telecommunications system
    ``(a) Direct Care.--In providing health care directly to an 
individual under this chapter or chapter 18 of this title, the 
Secretary may furnish an item or service to the individual via a 
telecommunications system.
    ``(b) Contracted Care.--(1) An item or service furnished to an 
individual covered by a plan described in paragraph (2) via a 
telecommunications system shall be covered by such a plan to the same 
extent the item or service would be covered if furnished in the same 
location of the individual, and benefits shall not be denied under such 
a plan solely on the basis that the item or service is being furnished 
via a telecommunications system. For the purposes of reimbursement, 
licensure, professional liability, and other purposes under this 
chapter and chapter 18 with respect to the provision of telehealth 
services, practitioners, suppliers, and providers of such services are 
considered to be furnishing such services at their location and not at 
the originating site.
    ``(2) A plan described in this paragraph is a plan for which the 
Secretary enters into a contract or agreement under this chapter or 
chapter 18 of this title to furnish health care to an individual.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
1709A the following new item:

``1709B. Provision of health care via telecommunications system.''.

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on January 1, 
2016, and shall apply to items and services furnished on or after such 
date.
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