I 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3507 

To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to expand the use of 

telehealth under the TRICARE program and in the Department of 

Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 15, 2013 

Mr. PETERS of California (for himself, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr. 

WELCH, and Mr. HARPER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 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 titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to expand 

the use of telehealth under the TRICARE program and 

in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other 

purposes. 

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘21st Century Care for 

5 Military and Veterans Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. TELEHEALTH UNDER TRICARE PROGRAM. 

2 (a) CARE PROVIDED AT MILITARY MEDICAL TREAT3 MENT FACILITIES.—Section 1077 of title 10, United 

4 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol5 lowing new subsection: 

6 ‘‘(g) In providing health care to a covered beneficiary 

7 under section 1076 of this title at a military medical treat8 ment facility, the Secretary may furnish an item or service 

9 to the covered beneficiary via a telecommunications sys10 tem.’’. 

11 (b) CARE PROVIDED AT PRIVATE FACILITIES.— 

12 (1) CERTAIN DEPENDENTS.—Section 1079 of 

13 title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding 

14 at the end the following new subsection: 

15 ‘‘(r)(1) An item or service furnished to a covered ben16 eficiary via a telecommunications system shall be covered 

17 by a plan described in paragraph (2) to the same extent 

18 the item or service would be covered if furnished in the 

19 same location of the covered beneficiary, and benefits shall 

20 not be denied under such a plan solely on the basis that 

21 the item or service is being furnished via a telecommuni22 cations system. For the purposes of reimbursement, licen23 sure, professional liability, and other purposes under this 

24 section with respect to the provision of telehealth services, 

25 practitioners, suppliers, and providers of such services are 


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1 considered to be furnishing such services at their location 

2 and not at the originating site. 

3 ‘‘(2) A plan described in this paragraph is a plan for 

4 which the Secretary enters into a contract under sub5 section (a) to provide dependents with medical care.’’. 

6 (2) CERTAIN MEMBERS AND FORMER MEM7 BERS.—Section 1086 of title 10, United States 

8 Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 

9 new subsection: 

10 ‘‘(i)(1) An item or service furnished to a covered ben11 eficiary via a telecommunications system shall be covered 

12 by a plan described in paragraph (2) to the same extent 

13 the item or service would be covered if furnished in the 

14 same location of the covered beneficiary, and benefits shall 

15 not be denied under such a plan solely on the basis that 

16 the item or service is being furnished via a telecommuni17 cations system. For the purposes of reimbursement, licen18 sure, professional liability, and other purposes under this 

19 section with respect to the provision of telehealth services, 

20 practitioners, suppliers, and providers of such services are 

21 considered to be furnishing such services at their location 

22 and not at the originating site. 

23 ‘‘(2) A plan described in this paragraph is a plan for 

24 which the Secretary enters into a contract under subVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:09 Nov 16, 2013 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3507.IH H3507

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1 section (a) to provide persons covered by subsection (c) 

2 with health benefits.’’. 

3 SEC. 3. HEALTH CARE PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 

4 VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 

6 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after sec7 tion 1709A the following new section: 

8 ‘‘§ 1709B. Provision of health care via telecommuni9 cations system 

10 ‘‘(a) DIRECT CARE.—In providing health care di11 rectly to an individual under this chapter or chapter 18 

12 of this title, the Secretary may furnish an item or service 

13 to the individual via a telecommunications system. 

14 ‘‘(b) CONTRACTED CARE.—(1) An item or service 

15 furnished to an individual covered by a plan described in 

16 paragraph (2) via a telecommunications system shall be 

17 covered by such a plan to the same extent the item or 

18 service would be covered if furnished in the same location 

19 of the individual, and benefits shall not be denied under 

20 such a plan solely on the basis that the item or service 

21 is being furnished via a telecommunications system. For 

22 the purposes of reimbursement, licensure, professional li23 ability, and other purposes under this chapter and chapter 

24 18 with respect to the provision of telehealth services, 

25 practitioners, suppliers, and providers of such services are 


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1 considered to be furnishing such services at their location 

2 and not at the originating site. 

3 ‘‘(2) A plan described in this paragraph is a plan for 

4 which the Secretary enters into a contract or agreement 

5 under this chapter or chapter 18 of this title to furnish 

6 health care to an individual.’’. 

7 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

8 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 

9 after the item relating to section 1709A the following new 

10 item: 

‘‘1709B. Provision of health care via telecommunications system.’’. 

11 SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

12 The amendments made by this Act shall take effect 

13 on January 1, 2015, and shall apply to items and services 

14 furnished on or after such date. 

Æ 


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