I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7149 

To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to require the Center for 

Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a model to improve access 

to specialty health services for certain Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 30, 2024 

Mrs. STEEL (for herself, Ms. LEE of Nevada, Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania, 

Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina, Ms. CARAVEO, Mrs. CHAVEZ-DEREMER, Mr. BACON, Ms. DE LA CRUZ, Ms. SALINAS, and Mr. 

VALADAO) 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 XI of the Social Security Act to require 

the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test 

a model to improve access to specialty health services 

for certain Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Equal Access to Spe3 cialty Care Everywhere Act of 2024’’ or the ‘‘EASE Act 

4 of 2024’’. 

5 SEC. 2. REQUIRING THE CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND MED6 ICAID INNOVATION TO TEST A MODEL TO IM7 PROVE ACCESS TO SPECIALTY HEALTH SERV8 ICES FOR CERTAIN MEDICARE AND MED9 ICAID BENEFICIARIES. 

10 Section 1115A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

11 1315a) is amended— 

12 (1) in subsection (b)(2)— 

13 (A) in subparagraph (A), in the third sen14 tence, by inserting ‘‘, and shall include the 

15 model described in subparagraph (B)(xxviii)’’ 

16 before the period at the end; and 

17 (B) in subparagraph (B), by adding at the 

18 end the following new clause: 

19 ‘‘(xxviii) The Specialty Health Care 

20 Services Access Model described in sub21 section (h).’’; and 

22 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub23 section: 

24 ‘‘(h) SPECIALTY HEALTH CARE SERVICES ACCESS

25 MODEL.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of subsection 

2 (b)(2)(B)(xxviii), the Specialty Health Care Services 

3 Access Model described in this subsection is a model 

4 under which the Secretary enters into an agreement 

5 one or more provider networks selected in accord6 ance with paragraph (2) for purposes of furnishing 

7 specialty health care services (as specified by the 

8 Secretary) to eligible individuals through the use of 

9 digital modalities (such as telehealth and other re10 mote technologies) in coordination with such individ11 uals’ primary care providers. 

12 ‘‘(2) SELECTION OF PROVIDER NETWORKS.— 

13 The Secretary shall select one or more networks of 

14 providers for purposes of furnishing services under 

15 the model described in paragraph (1). Any such net16 work so selected shall— 

17 ‘‘(A) be comprised of at least 50 Federally 

18 qualified health centers, rural health clinics, or 

19 community health clinics; 

20 ‘‘(B) be a nonprofit entity under section 

21 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 

22 1986; 

23 ‘‘(C) have an established record of sup24 porting the delivery of health care and address25 ing social determinants of health in underserved 


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1 communities in multiple regions throughout the 

2 country; and 

3 ‘‘(D) agree to support public health and 

4 serve as a national clinical research network, in5 cluding by conducting research with respect to 

6 both insured and uninsured individuals. 

7 ‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL DEFINED.—For 

8 purposes of this subsection, the term ‘eligible indi9 vidual’ means an individual— 

10 ‘‘(A) entitled to benefits under part A of 

11 title XVIII, enrolled under part B of such title, 

12 or enrolled under a State plan (or waiver of 

13 such plan) under title XIX; and 

14 ‘‘(B) located in a rural or underserved area 

15 (as specified by the Secretary).’’. 

Æ 


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