Home Health Emergency Access to Telehealth Act

To provide payments for home health services furnished via visual or audio telecommunication systems during an emergency period. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Home Health Emergency Access to Telehealth Act HEAT Act 2. Authorization of payments for home health services furnished via visual or audio telecommunication systems during an emergency period (a) Waiver authority (1) In general The first sentence of section 1135(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(b) (A) in paragraph (7), by striking and (B) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding the following new paragraph: (9) in the case of home health services furnished in an emergency area (or portion of such an area) during any portion of any emergency period (as those terms are defined in subsection (g)(1)(C)), the provisions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 1895(e)(1), as determined appropriate by the Secretary. . (2) Definitions of emergency area; emergency period Section 1135(g)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1) (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking subparagraph (B) subparagraphs (B) and (C) (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) Additional exception For purposes of subsection (b)(9), an emergency area emergency period . (b) Authorization Section 1895(e) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395fff(e) (1) in paragraph (1), by striking Nothing Subject to paragraph (2), nothing (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph: (2) Exception for public health emergencies Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a home health agency furnishing a home health unit of service for which payment is made under the prospective payment system established by this section for such units of service from furnishing services via a video or audio telecommunication system if such services— (A) are furnished pursuant to a waiver under section 1135(b)(9); (B) constitute no more than 50 percent of the number of billable visits, consistent with the in-person visit equivalency determination, billed under the 30-day period of care established under section 484.215(f) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations; (C) are furnished to a beneficiary under a plan of care established by a physician or practitioner with whom the beneficiary has an existing care relationship prior to the receipt of home health services that includes home health services to be furnished via a video or audio telecommunication system; and (D) such beneficiary consents to receiving home health services via a video or audio telecommunication system. . (c) Implementation (1) In general The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to apply to home health services furnished pursuant to the amendments made by this Act, which shall become effective no later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act. The Secretary shall issue an interim final rule, if necessary, to comply with the required effective date. (2) Considerations In prescribing such regulations, the Secretary may consider including— (A) standards for the content of orders and patient consent for such services; (B) documentation of such services provided and billing units of such services; (C) the nature and level of resources utilized for such services provided via video or audio telecommunication systems for purposes of determining equivalency with in-person visits in establishing the payment for such services; and (D) standards to ensure program integrity and prevent the incidence of fraud, waste, and abuse with respect to such services.

Summary: Home Health Emergency Access to Telehealth Act or the HEAT Act This bill provides for Medicare coverage of home health services that are furnished via telehealth during a public health emergency, in accordance with specified requirements. Specifically, the bill allows telehealth services to substitute for in-person home health services and to be considered as home health visits for purposes of payment under Medicare during a public health emergency. Such services (1) may not constitute more than 50% of the number of billable visits in a 30-day period, (2) must be furnished under a plan of care established by a practitioner with whom the beneficiary has an existing care relationship, and (3) must be furnished in accordance with the beneficiary's consent.