118 S2880 IS: Expanded Telehealth Access Act U.S. Senate 2023-09-21 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.

II118th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2880IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 21, 2023Mr. Daines (for himself, Ms. Smith, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Rosen, and Mr. Moran) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on FinanceA BILLTo amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the scope of practitioners eligible for payment for telehealth services under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Expanded Telehealth Access Act.

2.

Expanding the scope of practitioners eligible for payment for telehealth services under Medicare

Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended—(1)in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting the following before the period: (or, in the case of a telehealth service furnished on or after the date of enactment of the Expanded Telehealth Access Act by a therapy or therapist assistant described in subclause (II) or (III) of paragraph (4)(E)(ii), the Secretary shall pay with respect to such service furnished by such assistant the amount that would have been paid under this title with respect to such service furnished by such assistant had such service been furnished without the use of a telecommunications system); and(2)in paragraph (4), by striking subparagraph (E) and inserting the following:(E)

Practitioner described

The term practitioner means any of the following:(i)A practitioner described in section 1842(b)(18)(C).(ii)With respect to telehealth services furnished on or after the date of enactment of the Expanded Telehealth Access Act—(I)a qualified audiologist (as defined in section 1861(ll)(4)(B));(II)an occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant under the supervision of an occupational therapist;(III)a physical therapist and physical therapist assistant under the supervision of a physical therapist;(IV)a qualified speech-language pathologist (as defined in section 1861(ll)(4)(A));(V)a facility or other entity described in paragraph (8) or (9) of section 1833(a) that furnishes a telehealth therapy service; and(VI)any additional provider of services or supplier, as specified by the Secretary, that is participating in the program under this title and furnishes a telehealth service..