[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2408 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2408

    To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a national 
              telehealth program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 31, 2019

 Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Mr. Cramer) introduced the following 
  bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a national 
              telehealth program, 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 ``Telehealth Across State Lines Act of 
2019''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL TELEHEALTH PROGRAM.

    Subpart I of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 330N. NATIONAL TELEHEALTH PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Uniform National Best Practices.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, in consultation 
        with a range of stakeholders including the entities listed in 
        paragraph (3), issue guidance on uniform best practices for the 
        provision of telehealth across State lines.
            ``(2) Objective.--The objective of the best practices 
        issued under paragraph (1) shall be to, not later than 5 years 
        after the date of enactment of this section, provide high-
        quality telehealth in rural areas across the United States.
            ``(3) Consultation.--The entities listed in this paragraph 
        include--
                    ``(A) technology experts;
                    ``(B) data security experts;
                    ``(C) primary care providers;
                    ``(D) specialist providers;
                    ``(E) mental health providers;
                    ``(F) academic medical centers;
                    ``(G) Federally qualified health centers, as 
                defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act;
                    ``(H) State, local, or tribal health departments;
                    ``(I) critical access hospitals; and
                    ``(J) any Federal agency with expertise in the 
                provision of telecommunications or telehealth.
            ``(4) Reports.--The Secretary shall, not less than once 
        every year beginning 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
        section and ending on the date on which the guidance under 
        paragraph (1) is issued, report to the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee 
        on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives on the 
        progress of such guidance.
    ``(b) Grant Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall for each of fiscal 
        years 2020 through 2024 award grants to eligible entities 
        described in paragraph (2) for the expansion of telehealth 
        programs to rural areas.
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
        under this subsection, an entity shall--
                    ``(A) demonstrate that it is operating, on the date 
                on which the entity submits an application under 
                subparagraph (B), an effective telehealth program (as 
                determined in accordance with criteria established by 
                the Secretary); and
                    ``(B) submit an application to the Secretary at 
                such time, in such manner, and containing such 
                information as the Secretary may reasonably require, 
                including a plan to expand the telehealth program 
                operated by the entity to rural areas.
            ``(3) Study.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) complete a study on the grant program under 
                this subsection, including the successes and challenges 
                of the program, lessons the Secretary has learned with 
                respect to the program, and best practices for 
                telehealth programs; and
                    ``(B) submit a report on such study to the 
                Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
                the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of 
                the House of Representatives.
            ``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection, $20,000,000 
        for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.
    ``(c) Definition of Rural Area.--In this section, the term `rural 
area' has the meaning given the term in section 330J(e).''.

SEC. 3. CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID INNOVATION (CMMI) MODEL TO 
              INCENTIVIZE THE ADOPTION OF TELEHEALTH IN ORDER TO 
              INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE IN RURAL AREAS.

    Section 1115A(b)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395a(b)(2)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
clause:
                            ``(xxviii) Providing incentives under title 
                        XVIII to encourage the adoption of telehealth 
                        in order to increase access to care in rural 
                        areas.''.
                                 <all>