[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5308-H5309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TELEHEALTH ENHANCEMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH ACT OF 2024
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (H.R. 7858) to amend title XVIII of the Social
Security Act to establish a Medicare incident to modifier for mental
health services furnished through telehealth, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 7858
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 Enhancement for
Mental Health Act of 2024'' or the ``TELEMH Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDICARE INCIDENT TO MODIFIER FOR
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FURNISHED THROUGH
TELEHEALTH AND OTHER TELEHEALTH SERVICES.
Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395m(m)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(10) Required use of modifiers in certain instances.--Not
later than January 1, 2026, the Secretary shall establish
requirements to include a code or modifier, as determined
appropriate by the Secretary, in the case of claims for
telehealth services under this subsection that are billed
incident to a physician's or practitioner's professional
service.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Washington (Mrs. Rodgers) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.
Pallone) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Washington.
General Leave
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on the
bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Washington?
There was no objection.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7858, the Telehealth
Enhancement for Mental Health Act of 2024, led by the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. James), a valuable member of the House Energy and
Commerce Committee.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. James' legislation will put in place program
integrity measures so that we can better understand the extent to which
telehealth is working for patients on Medicare.
Over the past several years, telehealth has proven itself to be a
vital way for patients to access care, especially in rural communities.
Telehealth services are still being used widely among Medicare
beneficiaries compared to prepandemic levels. Evaluation and management
services, such as doctors' visits and following up to imaging, have
accounted for nearly all of telehealth spending in Medicare.
As Congress works to continue allowing seniors to access telehealth
through Medicare, this bill will implement a key recommendation from
the Department of Health and Human Services inspector general to
increase transparency and allow more detailed data collection on types
of providers performing telehealth services.
This will help ensure Medicare beneficiaries are not just benefiting
from expanded access and quality care, but the best value these
technologies have to offer.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Energy and Commerce,
Washington, DC, September 11, 2024.
Hon. Jason Smith,
Chair, Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chair Smith: I write regarding H.R. 7858, the ``TELEMH
Act of 2024,'' which was referred in addition to the
Committee on Ways and Means.
I ask that the Committee forgo action on the bill so that
it may be scheduled for consideration on the House floor.
This concession would in no way affect the Committee's
jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill. In
addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I
would support the Committee's request for conferees on the
conference committee. Finally, I would be pleased to include
this letter and your response in the Congressional Record
during debate on the bill.
Thank you for your consideration of my request and for the
extraordinary cooperation shown by you and your staff over
matters of shared jurisdiction. I look forward to further
opportunities to work with you this Congress.
Sincerely,
Cathy McMorris Rodgers,
Chair.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC, September 11, 2024.
Hon. Cathy McMorris Rodgers,
Chair, Committee on Energy and Commerce,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chair McMorris Rodgers: Thank you for your letter
regarding H.R. 7858, the ``TELEMH Act of 2024.'' As you
noted, the Committee on Ways and Means was granted an
additional referral on this bill. I agree to forego action on
this bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House
floor for consideration.
The Committee takes this action with our mutual
understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 7858 at
this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over subject
matter contained in this bill or similar legislation, and
that our Committee will be appropriately consulted and
involved as the bill or similar legislation moves forward so
that we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction.
Our Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of
an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate
conference involving this or similar legislation, and asks
that you support any such request.
Finally, I would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters
on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during
floor consideration of H.R. 7858.
Sincerely,
Jason Smith,
Chairman.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7858, the Telehealth
Enhancement for Mental Health Act.
This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to
develop a modifier on claims submitted to Medicare for mental health
services furnished through telehealth. This modifier will allow the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to identify when mental health
services are being provided virtually by different types of providers
and will help ensure beneficiaries receiving mental health support
remotely can access care when they need it.
[[Page H5309]]
We know that mental health care is healthcare. In the face of an
ongoing mental health and substance use disorder epidemic, it is
critical that Medicare beneficiaries are able to access behavioral and
mental health services virtually.
This bill will ensure Medicare beneficiaries enjoy continued access
to high-quality telemental health services from a range of qualified
providers.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on
H.R. 7858, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. James).
Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs.
Rodgers), my chairwoman, friend, and mentor, for her stellar leadership
and for giving me a shot.
One of the big reasons why I ran for Congress in the first place was
to help people, and this bill, with strong bipartisan support, is going
to take another step in helping everyday Americans.
I rise today to speak about my critical bill, H.R. 7858, the
Telehealth Enhancement for Mental Health Act of 2024. At a time when
mental health needs are soaring, this bill will revolutionize access to
mental health care by ushering transformative changes to Medicare
reimbursement policies for mental health services provided for by
telehealth.
It will modernize healthcare delivery by establishing a new modifier,
or code, tailored explicitly for telehealth-delivered mental health
services.
In layman's terms, in normal people's terms, it is hard out there. It
is tough out there, and Americans need and deserve help from the folks
that they sent here to represent them. Simply, this bill is a critical
step toward realizing the full potential of telehealth in delivering
these vital mental health services to Americans who are at their wits
end.
By introducing a specific modifier for telehealth-based mental health
services, we are not only streamlining the billing and reimbursement
processes, cutting red tape, but also amplifying access for those in
need regardless of their geographic barriers or their economic
abilities.
Mr. Speaker, this is a no-brainer. Right now, our Nation is
experiencing a hopelessness crisis, and this bipartisan legislation
will allow millions to get the care that they need right when and where
they need it.
The bottom line is this legislation is going to save lives, and I ask
all of my colleagues to please support this commonsense, bipartisan
legislation.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, again, now, we are dealing with another
important telehealth bill for mental health services, and I urge my
colleagues to support this bill, as well, on both sides of the aisle,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge a ``yes''
vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7858, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend
title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Medicare incident
to modifier for mental health services furnished through telehealth and
other telehealth services.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________