Telehealth Across State Lines Act of 2019

To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a national telehealth program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Telehealth Across State Lines Act of 2019 2. National telehealth program Subpart I of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254b 330N. National telehealth program (a) Uniform national best practices (1) In general The Secretary shall, in consultation with a range of stakeholders including the entities listed in paragraph (3), issue guidance on uniform best practices for the provision of telehealth across State lines. (2) Objective The objective of the best practices issued under paragraph (1) shall be to, not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this section, provide high-quality telehealth in rural areas across the United States. (3) Consultation The entities listed in this paragraph include— (A) technology experts; (B) data security experts; (C) primary care providers; (D) specialist providers; (E) mental health providers; (F) academic medical centers; (G) Federally qualified health centers, as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act; (H) State, local, or tribal health departments; (I) critical access hospitals; and (J) any Federal agency with expertise in the provision of telecommunications or telehealth. (4) Reports The Secretary shall, not less than once every year beginning 1 year after the date of enactment of this section and ending on the date on which the guidance under paragraph (1) is issued, report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives on the progress of such guidance. (b) Grant program (1) In general The Secretary shall for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024 award grants to eligible entities described in paragraph (2) for the expansion of telehealth programs to rural areas. (2) Eligible entity To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall— (A) demonstrate that it is operating, on the date on which the entity submits an application under subparagraph (B), an effective telehealth program (as determined in accordance with criteria established by the Secretary); and (B) submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including a plan to expand the telehealth program operated by the entity to rural areas. (3) Study Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall— (A) complete a study on the grant program under this subsection, including the successes and challenges of the program, lessons the Secretary has learned with respect to the program, and best practices for telehealth programs; and (B) submit a report on such study to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives. (4) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection, $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024. (c) Definition of rural area In this section, the term rural area . 3. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) model to incentivize the adoption of telehealth in order to increase access to care in rural areas Section 1115A(b)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395a(b)(2)(B) (xxviii) Providing incentives under title XVIII to encourage the adoption of telehealth in order to increase access to care in rural areas. .

Summary: Telehealth Across State Lines Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with a range of stakeholders, to issue guidance for uniform best practices for the delivery of telehealth services. The bill also establishes a grant program to expand access to telehealth services in rural areas and revises the duties of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to incentivize the adoption of telehealth services.