Evidence-Based Telehealth Expansion Act of 2017
This bill authorizes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to waive certain requirements relating to coverage of telehealth services under Medicare (e.g., originating site requirements) if certain conditions are met.
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3482 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3482
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the use of
telehealth under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 27, 2017
Mr. Johnson of Ohio (for himself and Ms. Matsui) 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 concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the use of
telehealth under the Medicare 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 ``Evidence-Based Telehealth Expansion
Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. EXPANDING THE USE OF TELEHEALTH THROUGH THE WAIVER OF CERTAIN
REQUIREMENTS.
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:
``(5) Authority to waive requirements and limitations if
certain conditions met.--
``(A) In general.--In the case of telehealth
services furnished on or after January 1, 2018, the
Secretary may waive any restriction applicable to the
coverage of telehealth services under this subsection
described in subparagraph (B) with respect to certain
providers of services, suppliers, provider groups,
sites of care, services, conditions, individuals
receiving the services, or States, as determined by the
Secretary, if each of the requirements described in
subparagraph (C) is met with respect to the waiver.
``(B) Restrictions described.--For purposes of this
paragraph, restrictions applicable to the coverage of
telehealth services under this subsection shall include
requirements relating to qualifications for an
originating site under paragraph (4)(C)(ii), any
geographic limitations under paragraph (4)(C)(i) (other
than applicable State law requirements, including State
licensure requirements), any limitation on the use of
store-and-forward technologies described in paragraph
(1), any limitation on the type of health care provider
who may furnish such services (other than the
requirement that the provider is a Medicare-enrolled
provider), or any limitation on specific codes
designated as telehealth services that are covered
under this title pursuant to this subsection (provided
such codes are clinically appropriate to furnish
remotely).
``(C) Requirements for waiver.--The requirements
described in this subparagraph are, with respect to the
waiver of a restriction described in subparagraph (B),
the following:
``(i) The Secretary determines that the
waiver is expected to--
``(I) reduce spending under this
title without reducing the quality of
care; or
``(II) improve the quality of
patient care without increasing
spending.
``(ii) The Chief Actuary of the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services certifies that
such waiver would reduce (or would not result
in any increase in) net program spending under
this title.
``(iii) The Secretary determines that such
waiver would not deny or limit the coverage or
provision of benefits under this title for
individuals.
``(D) Public comment.--The Secretary shall
establish a process by which stakeholders may (on at
least an annual basis) submit requests for a waiver
under this paragraph.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
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 concerned.
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 concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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