1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Permanency for Audio-Only Telehealth Act”.
Permanency for Audio-Only Telehealth Act
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand accessibility to certain telehealth services under the Medicare program.
2. Expanding accessibility to certain telehealth services under the Medicare program
Use of audio-Only telecommunications systems for certain services— Section 1834(m)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(G) Telecommunications system
“(i) In general—The term telecommunications system includes, in the case of the furnishing of a specified telehealth service (as defined in clause (ii)), a communications system consisting only of audio capabilities.
“(ii) Specified telehealth service—For purposes of clause (i), the term specified telehealth service means a telehealth service consisting of—
“(I) evaluation and management services;
“(II) mental and behavioral health services;
“(III) substance use disorder services; or
“(IV) any other service specified by the Secretary.”
Removing geographic restrictions and expanding the use of the home as an originating site for certain telehealth services— Section 1834(m)(7) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(7)) is amended—
in the header, by striking “substance use disorder” and inserting “certain”;
by striking “with respect to telehealth services” and inserting the following:
“(A) telehealth services”
by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(B) telehealth services consisting of evaluation and management services or mental and behavioral health services furnished on or after the date of the enactment of this subparagraph to an eligible telehealth individual at an originating site described in paragraph (4)(C)(ii)(X).”