Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Expanded Telehealth Access Act”.
Expanded Telehealth Access Act
A BILL
To 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.
Sec. 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—
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
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.”