Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Advancing Access to Telehealth Act”.
Advancing Access to Telehealth Act
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make permanent certain telehealth flexibilities under the Medicare program.
Sec. 2 Making permanent certain telehealth flexibilities under Medicare
Expanded access to telehealth services— Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended—
in paragraph (2)(B)(iii), by striking “In the case that” and all that follows through “ending September 30, 2025,” and inserting “With respect to telehealth services that are furnished on or after the first day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B),”; and
in paragraph (4)(C)(iii), by striking “In the case that” and all that follows through “ending on September 30, 2025,” and inserting “With respect to telehealth services that are furnished on or after the first day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B),”.
Expansion of practitioners eligible To furnish telehealth services— Section 1834(m)(4)(E) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(E)) is amended by striking “in the case that” and all that follows through “ending on September 30, 2025,” and inserting “beginning on the first day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B),”.
Extension of telehealth services furnished by Federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics— Section 1834(m)(8)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(8)(A)) is amended by striking “During the emergency” and all that follows through “ending on September 30, 2025” and inserting “Beginning on the first day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B)”.
Treatment of telehealth services furnished using audio-Only telecommunications technology— Section 1834(m)(9) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(9)) is amended—
by striking “In the case that” and all that follows through “the Secretary shall continue to” and inserting “The Secretary shall”;
by striking “identified in paragraph (4)(F)(i) as of the date of the enactment of this paragraph”; and
by striking “during the period” and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting “on or after the first day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B).”.
Elimination of in-Person requirements under Medicare for certain services furnished through telehealth—
Home dialysis monthly ESRD-related visit; stroke telehealth services; substance use disorder services and mental health services—
In general— Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended by striking paragraphs (5) through (7) and redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (5) and (6), accordingly.
in paragraph (1), by striking “Subject to paragraphs (8) and (9)” and inserting “Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6)”;
in paragraph (2)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking “Subject to paragraph (8)” and inserting “Subject to paragraph (5)”; and
in subparagraph (B), by striking “and paragraph (6)(C)”; and
in paragraph (4)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking “Subject to paragraph (8)” and inserting “Subject to paragraph (5)”;
in subparagraph (C)—
in clause (i), by striking “and paragraphs (5), (6), and (7)”; and
in clause (ii)(X), by striking “or telehealth services described in paragraph (7)”; and
in subparagraph (F), by striking “Subject to paragraph (8)” and inserting “Subject to paragraph (5)”.
Mental health visits furnished by Federally qualified health centers— Section 1834(o)(4)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(o)(4)(B)) is amended by striking “prior to October 1, 2025”.
Mental health visits furnished by rural health clinics— Section 1834(y)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(y)(2)) is amended by striking “prior to October 1, 2025”.