117 HR 1580 IH: Improving Access to Alternative Pain Management Act U.S. House of Representatives 2021-03-03 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1580IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 3, 2021Mr. Latta introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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 concernedA BILLTo amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit the use of certain psychological evaluation via telehealth for Medicare coverage of neurostimulation services for the treatment of chronic pain.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Improving Access to Alternative Pain Management Act.

2.

Permitting certain psychological evaluations via telehealth for Medicare coverage of neurostimulation services for the treatment of chronic pain

(a)

Permitting use of psychological evaluation via telehealth for purposes of certain coverage of neurostimulation services

Section 1834 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m) is amended by adding at the end the following: (z)

Use of psychological evaluation via telehealth for purposes of coverage of neurostimulation services for the treatment of chronic pain

Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, beginning January 1, 2022, for coverage under this part of neurostimulation services, as identified under the National Coverage Determination section 160.7, titled Medicare National Coverage Determination for Electrical Nerve Stimulators, as in effect on January 1, 2020, for the treatment of chronic pain, any requirement for a psychological evaluation prior to receipt of the service may be satisfied through such an evaluation via telehealth..(b)

Inclusion of certain psychological evaluations as telehealth services

Section 1834(m)(4)(F)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(4)(F)(i)) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: , and, beginning January 1, 2022, shall include psychological evaluations (identified by CPT codes 96130, 96131, 96136, 96137, 96138, and 96139 and any successor codes and additional codes the Secretary determines may be necessary to perform the psychological evaluation furnished prior to the provision of neurostimulation services) furnished prior to the provision of neurostimulation services (as described in section 1834(z)) for the purpose of treating chronic pain.