[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8489 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8489
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend certain
telehealth services and requirements, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 26, 2022
Mr. Schweikert (for himself, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, and Mr. Carter of
Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy
and Commerce, 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 title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend certain
telehealth services and requirements, 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 ``Greater Access to Telehealth Act''.
SEC. 2. REMOVING GEOGRAPHIC REQUIREMENTS AND EXPANDING ORIGINATING
SITES FOR TELEHEALTH SERVICES.
Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(B)(iii)--
(A) by striking ``With'' and inserting ``In the
case that the emergency period described in section
1135(g)(1)(B) ends before December 31, 2026, with'';
and
(B) by striking ``that are furnished during the
151-day period beginning on the first day after the end
of the emergency period described in section
1135(g)(1)(B)'' and inserting ``that are furnished
during the period beginning on the first day after the
end of such emergency period and ending December 31,
2026''; and
(2) in paragraph (4)(C)(iii)--
(A) by striking ``With'' and inserting ``In the
case that the emergency period described in section
1135(g)(1)(B) ends before December 31, 2026, with'';
and
(B) by striking ``that are furnished during the
151-day period beginning on the first day after the end
of the emergency period described in section
1135(g)(1)(B)'' and inserting ``that are furnished
during the period beginning on the first day after the
end of such emergency period and ending on December 31,
2026''.
SEC. 3. EXPANDING PRACTITIONERS ELIGIBLE TO FURNISH TELEHEALTH
SERVICES.
Section 1834(m)(4)(E) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395m(m)(4)(E)) is amended by striking ``and, for the 151-day period
beginning on the first day after the end of the emergency period
described in section 1135(g)(1)(B)'' and inserting ``and, in the case
that the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) ends
before December 31, 2026, for the period beginning on the first day
after the end of such emergency period and ending on December 31,
2026''.
SEC. 4. EXTENDING TELEHEALTH SERVICES FOR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH
CENTERS AND RURAL HEALTH CLINICS.
Section 1834(m)(8)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395m(m)(8)(A)) is amended by striking ``during the 151-day period
beginning on the first day after the end of such emergency period'' and
inserting ``in the case that such emergency period ends before December
31, 2026, during the period beginning on the first day after the end of
such emergency period and ending on December 31, 2026''.
SEC. 5. DELAYING THE IN-PERSON REQUIREMENTS UNDER MEDICARE FOR MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES FURNISHED THROUGH TELEHEALTH AND
TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY.
(a) Delay in Requirements for Mental Health Services Furnished
Through Telehealth.--Section 1834(m)(7)(B)(i) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(7)(B)(i)) is amended, in the matter preceding
subclause (I), by striking ``on or after the day that is the 152nd day
after the end of the period at the end of the emergency sentence
described in section 1135(g)(1)(B))'' and inserting ``on or after
January 1, 2027 (or, if later, the first day after the end of the
emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B))''.
(b) Mental Health Visits Furnished by Rural Health Clinics.--
Section 1834(y) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(y)) is
amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``to hospice patients'';
and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``prior to the day that
is the 152nd day after the end of the emergency period
described in section 1135(g)(1)(B))'' and inserting ``prior to
January 1, 2027 (or, if later, the first day after the end of
the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B))''.
(c) Mental Health Visits Furnished by Federally Qualified Health
Centers.--Section 1834(o)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395m(o)(4)) is amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``to hospice patients'';
and
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``prior to the day
that is the 152nd day after the end of the emergency period
described in section 1135(g)(1)(B))'' and inserting ``prior to
January 1, 2027 (or, if later, the first day after the end of
the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B))''.
SEC. 6. ALLOWING FOR THE FURNISHING OF AUDIO-ONLY TELEHEALTH SERVICES.
Section 1834(m)(9) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395m(m)(9)) is amended by striking ``The Secretary shall continue to
provide coverage and payment under this part for telehealth services
identified in paragraph (4)(F)(i) as of the date of the enactment of
this paragraph that are furnished via an audio-only telecommunications
system during the 151-day period beginning on the first day after the
end of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B)'' and
inserting ``In the case that the emergency period described in section
1135(g)(1)(B) ends before December 31, 2026, the Secretary shall
continue to provide coverage and payment under this part for telehealth
services identified in paragraph (4)(F)(i) that are furnished via an
audio-only communications system during the period beginning on the
first day after the end of such emergency period and ending on December
31, 2026''.
SEC. 7. USE OF TELEHEALTH TO CONDUCT FACE-TO-FACE ENCOUNTER PRIOR TO
RECERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR HOSPICE CARE DURING
EMERGENCY PERIOD.
Section 1814(a)(7)(D)(i)(II) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395f(a)(7)(D)(i)(II)) is amended by striking ``and during the 151-day
period beginning on the first day after the end of such emergency
period'' and inserting ``and, in the case that such emergency period
ends before December 31, 2026, during the period beginning on the first
day after the end of such emergency period described in such section
1135(g)(1)(B) and ending on December 31, 2026''.
SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF SAFE HARBOR FOR ABSENCE OF DEDUCTIBLE FOR
TELEHEALTH.
Section 223(c)(2)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is
amended by striking ``and before January 1, 2023,'' and inserting ``and
before January 1, 2027,''.
SEC. 9. FUNDING FROM MEDICARE IMPROVEMENT FUND.
Section 1898(b)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395jjj(b)(1)) is amended by striking ``$7,500,000,000'' and inserting
``$0''.
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