Telehealth Across State Lines Act of 2019
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with a range of stakeholders, to issue guidance for uniform best practices for the delivery of telehealth services. The bill also establishes a grant program to expand access to telehealth services in rural areas and revises the duties of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to incentivize the adoption of telehealth services.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4900 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4900
To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a national
telehealth program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 29, 2019
Mr. David P. Roe of Tennessee (for himself and Mr. Kustoff of
Tennessee) 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 the Public Health Service Act to establish a national
telehealth 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 ``Telehealth Across State Lines Act of
2019''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL TELEHEALTH PROGRAM.
Subpart I of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 330N. NATIONAL TELEHEALTH PROGRAM.
``(a) Uniform National Best Practices.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, in consultation
with a range of stakeholders including the entities listed in
paragraph (3), issue guidance on uniform best practices for the
provision of telehealth across State lines.
``(2) Objective.--The objective of the best practices
issued under paragraph (1) shall be to, not later than 5 years
after the date of enactment of this section, provide high-
quality telehealth in rural areas across the United States.
``(3) Consultation.--The entities listed in this paragraph
include--
``(A) technology experts;
``(B) data security experts;
``(C) primary care providers;
``(D) specialist providers;
``(E) mental health providers;
``(F) academic medical centers;
``(G) Federally qualified health centers, as
defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act;
``(H) State, local, or tribal health departments;
``(I) critical access hospitals; and
``(J) any Federal agency with expertise in the
provision of telecommunications or telehealth.
``(4) Reports.--The Secretary shall, not less than once
every year beginning 1 year after the date of enactment of this
section and ending on the date on which the guidance under
paragraph (1) is issued, report to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee
on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives on the
progress of such guidance.
``(b) Grant Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall for each of fiscal
years 2020 through 2024 award grants to eligible entities
described in paragraph (2) for the expansion of telehealth
programs to rural areas.
``(2) Eligible entity.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this subsection, an entity shall--
``(A) demonstrate that it is operating, on the date
on which the entity submits an application under
subparagraph (B), an effective telehealth program (as
determined in accordance with criteria established by
the Secretary); and
``(B) submit an application to the Secretary at
such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may reasonably require,
including a plan to expand the telehealth program
operated by the entity to rural areas.
``(3) Study.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall--
``(A) complete a study on the grant program under
this subsection, including the successes and challenges
of the program, lessons the Secretary has learned with
respect to the program, and best practices for
telehealth programs; and
``(B) submit a report on such study to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of
the House of Representatives.
``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection, $20,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.
``(c) Definition of Rural Area.--In this section, the term `rural
area' has the meaning given the term in section 330J(e).''.
SEC. 3. CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID INNOVATION (CMMI) MODEL TO
INCENTIVIZE THE ADOPTION OF TELEHEALTH IN ORDER TO
INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE IN RURAL AREAS.
Section 1115A(b)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395a(b)(2)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
clause:
``(xxviii) Providing incentives under title
XVIII to encourage the adoption of telehealth
in order to increase access to care in rural
areas.''.
<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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