To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand access to home dialysis therapy.

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand access to home dialysis therapy. 1. Expanding access to home dialysis therapy (a) Allowing use of telehealth for monthly end stage renal disease-Related visits (1) In general Paragraph (3) of section 1881(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395rr(b) (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; (B) in clause (ii), as redesignated by subparagraph (A)— (i) by inserting subject to subparagraph (B), on a comprehensive (ii) by striking under this subparagraph under this clause (C) by striking With respect to (A) With respect to (D) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (B) (i) Subject to clause (ii), an individual who is determined to have end stage renal disease and who is receiving home dialysis may choose to receive monthly end stage renal disease-related visits, furnished on or after January 1, 2019, via telehealth. (ii) Clause (i) shall apply to an individual only if the individual receives a face-to-face visit, without the use of telehealth— (I) in the case of the initial three months of home dialysis of such individual, at least monthly; and (II) after such initial three months, at least once every three consecutive months. . (2) Conforming amendment Paragraph (1) of such section is amended by striking paragraph (3)(A) paragraph (3)(A)(i) (b) Expanding originating sites for telehealth To include renal dialysis facilities and the home for purposes of monthly end stage renal disease-Related visits (1) In general Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m) (A) in paragraph (4)(C)(ii), by adding at the end the following new subclauses: (IX) A renal dialysis facility, but only for purposes of section 1881(b)(3)(B). (X) The home of an individual, but only for purposes of section 1881(b)(3)(B). ; and (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) Treatment of home dialysis monthly ESRD-related visit The geographic requirements described in paragraph (4)(C)(i) shall not apply with respect to telehealth services furnished on or after January 1, 2019, for purposes of section 1881(b)(3)(B), at an originating site described in subclause (VI), (IX), or (X) of paragraph (4)(C)(ii)). . (2) No facility fee if originating site for home dialysis therapy is the home Section 1834(m)(2)(B) of the Social Security ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(2)(B) (A) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and by indenting each of such subclauses 2 ems to the right; (B) in subclause (II), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), by striking clause (i) or this clause subclause (I) or this subclause (C) by striking site site (i) In general Subject to clause (ii), with respect to ; and (D) by adding at the end the following new clause: (ii) No facility fee if originating site for home dialysis therapy is the home No facility fee shall be paid under this subparagraph to an originating site described in subclause (X) of paragraph (4)(C)(ii). . (c) Clarification regarding telehealth provided to beneficiaries Section 1128A(i)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7a(i)(6)) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (H), by striking ; or (2) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (J) the provision of telehealth on or after January 1, 2019, to individuals with end stage renal disease under title XVIII by a health care provider for the purpose of furnishing of telehealth. . (d) Study and report on further expansion (1) Study The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to examine the benefits and drawbacks of expanding the coverage under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act of renal dialysis services as telehealth services, pursuant to the amendments made by this section, to include coverage of renal dialysis services furnished via telehealth and other store-and-forward technologies. (2) Report Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).

Summary: This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow a&nbsp;Medicare beneficiary who has end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and is receiving home dialysis to receive monthly ESRD-related visits via telehealth, provided that the beneficiary also receives face-to-face visits periodically. Specified facility fees and&nbsp;geographic requirements shall not apply with respect to the provision of such services via telehealth. The Government Accountability Office must study and report to Congress on the further expansion of Medicare coverage of renal dialysis services furnished via telehealth.