Expanded Telehealth Access Act

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the scope of practitioners eligible for payment for telehealth services under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Expanded Telehealth Access Act 2. Expanding the scope of practitioners eligible for payment for telehealth services under medicare (a) Telehealth provider parity Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by striking described in section 1842(b)(18)(C) as described in paragraph (4)(E)) (B) by striking individual physician or practitioner individual physician or practitioner described in paragraph (4)(E) (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking practitioner practitioner as described in paragraph (4)(E) (B) by inserting before located at a distant site (or, in the case of an occupational therapy assistant described in paragraph (4)(E)(ii)(II) or a physical therapist assistant described in paragraph (4)(E)(ii)(III), shall pay with respect to such assistant) (C) by inserting (or, in the case of an occupational therapy assistant described in paragraph (4)(E)(ii)(II) or a physical therapist assistant described in paragraph (4)(E)(ii)(III), the amount that would have been paid under this title with respect to such assistant) would have been paid under this title (3) in paragraph (3)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking or practitioner or practitioner described in paragraph (4)(E) (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting described in subparagraph (C) of such section practitioners (4) in paragraph (4)— (A) in each of subparagraphs (A) and (C), by inserting described in paragraph (4)(E) practitioner (B) by amending subparagraph (E) to read as follows: (E) Practitioner described The term practitioner (i) A practitioner described in section 1842(b)(18)(C). (ii) With respect to services furnished on or after the date of enactment of the Expanded Telehealth Access Act, a licensed— (I) qualified audiologist (as defined in section 1861(ll)(4)(B); (II) occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant under the supervision of an occupational therapist; (III) physical therapist and physical therapist assistant under the supervision of a physical therapist; (IV) qualified speech-language pathologist (as defined in section 1861(ll)(4)(A)); (V) facility described in paragraph (8) or (9) of section 1833(a) that furnishes telehealth therapy services; and (VI) any additional health care provider, as specified by the Secretary, who participates under this title and furnishes a service that is included as a telehealth service under this subsection. .

Summary: Expanded Telehealth Access Act This bill permanently allows audiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other providers designated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide telehealth services under Medicare. Currently, the CMS is authorized to waive requirements for Medicare telehealth services during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19, and it has done so to allow all providers that are otherwise eligible to furnish in-person services under Medicare to also furnish telehealth services.