Better Respiration through Expanding Access to Tele-Health Act

To provide for a pilot program to include respiratory therapists as telehealth practitioners under the Medicare program. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Better Respiration through Expanding Access to Tele-Health Act BREATHE Act 2. Pilot program for including respiratory therapists as telehealth practitioners under the Medicare program (a) In general Beginning not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish a 3-year pilot program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to furnishing telehealth disease management services to eligible telehealth individuals who are diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for purposes of determining the value of including qualifying respiratory therapists as telehealth practitioners under the Medicare program to improve health outcomes for, reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and hospital admissions and readmissions of, and lower the cost of care provided to such individuals. (b) Telehealth access Under the pilot program, coverage shall be provided under title XVIII of the Social Security Act for telehealth disease management services furnished to eligible telehealth individuals who are diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by applying section 1834(m) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m) (1) the reference in paragraph (1) of such section to a practitioner (as described in section 1842(b)(18)(C)) a practitioner (as defined in paragraph (4)(E)) (2) paragraph (2)(B) of such section does not apply to any site that satisfies the definition of the term originating site (3) the definition under paragraph (4)(C) of such section for the term originating site (4) the definition in paragraph (4)(E) of such section for the term practitioner (5) the definition in paragraph (4)(F) of such section for telehealth services (c) Payment modifier For purposes of the pilot program, the Secretary shall establish a payment modifier to ensure the collection of data relevant to telehealth disease management services furnished directly by a qualifying respiratory therapist to eligible telehealth individuals who are diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (d) Report Not later than one year after the last date of the pilot program, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the program, including if acute care interventions were reduced and the health status of eligible telehealth individuals who are diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was improved based on the lower utilization of services. (e) Definitions For purposes of this section: (1) The term eligible telehealth individual 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4) (2) The term qualifying respiratory therapist (A) is credentialed by a national credentialing board recognized by the Secretary of Health and Human Services; (B) if applicable, is licensed in the State in which the therapist furnishes the services involved; (C) holds the credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist; and (D) has a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or other advanced degree in biological or health science. (3) The term telehealth disease management services (A) Self-management education and training. (B) Demonstration and evaluation of inhaler techniques. (C) Smoking cessation counseling. (D) Remote patient monitoring.

Summary: Better Respiration through Expanding Access to Tele-Health Act or the BREATHE Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to establish a pilot program in which qualifying respiratory therapists may provide telehealth services under Medicare. Specifically, the program must allow respiratory therapists to provide telehealth disease management services (e.g., smoking cessation counseling) for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.