Telehealth Extension and Evaluation Act

To amend titles XI and XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend certain telehealth services covered by Medicare and to evaluate the impact of telehealth services on Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) In general This Act may be cited as the Telehealth Extension and Evaluation Act (b) Table of contents The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Extension of telehealth services. Sec. 3. Temporary requirements for provision of high-cost durable medical equipment and laboratory tests. Sec. 4. Requirement to submit NPI number for telehealth billing. Sec. 5. Federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics. Sec. 6. Telehealth flexibilities for critical access hospitals. Sec. 7. Use of telehealth for the dispensing of controlled substances by means of the internet. Sec. 8. Study on the effects of changes to telehealth under the Medicare and Medicaid programs during the COVID–19 emergency. 2. Extension of telehealth services Section 1135(e) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(e) (3) Two-year extension of telehealth services following the COVID–19 emergency period Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a waiver or modification of requirements pursuant to subsection (b)(8) shall terminate on the date that is 2 years after the last day of the emergency period described in subsection (g)(1)(B). . 3. Temporary requirements for provision of high-cost durable medical equipment and laboratory tests (a) High-Cost durable medical equipment Section 1834(a)(1)(E) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(a)(1)(E) (vi) Standards for high-cost durable medical equipment (I) Limitation on payment for high-cost durable medical equipment During the 2-year period beginning on the day after the last day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B), payment may not be made under this subsection for high-cost durable medical equipment ordered by a physician or other practitioner described in clause (ii) via telehealth for an individual, unless such physician or practitioner furnished to such individual a service in person at least once during the 12-month period prior to ordering such high-cost durable medical equipment. (II) High-cost durable medical equipment defined For purposes of this clause, the term high-cost durable medical equipment (vii) Audit of providers and practitioners furnishing a high volume of durable medical equipment via telehealth (I) Identification of providers During the 2-year period beginning on the day after the last day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B), Medicare administrative contractors shall conduct reviews, on a schedule determined by the Secretary, of claims for durable medical equipment prescribed by a physician or other practitioner described in clause (ii) during the 12-month period preceding such review to identify physicians or other practitioners with respect to whom at least 90 percent of all durable medical equipment prescribed by such physician or practitioner during such period was prescribed pursuant to a telehealth visit. (II) Audit In the case of a physician or practitioner identified under subclause (I), with respect to a 12-month period described in such subclause, the Medicare administrative contractors shall conduct audits of all claims for durable medical equipment prescribed by such physicians or practitioners to determine whether such claims comply with the requirements for coverage under this title. . (b) High-Cost laboratory tests Section 1834A(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m–1(b) (6) Requirement for high-cost laboratory tests (A) Limitation on payment for high-cost laboratory tests During the 2-year period beginning on the day after the last day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B), payment may not be made under this subsection for a high-cost laboratory test ordered by a physician or practitioner via telehealth for an individual, unless such physician or practitioner furnished to such individual a service in person at least once during the 12-month period prior to ordering such high-cost laboratory test. (B) High-cost laboratory test defined For purposes of this paragraph, the term high-cost laboratory test (7) Audit of laboratory testing ordered pursuant to telehealth visit (A) Identification of providers During the 2-year period beginning on the day after the last day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B), Medicare administrative contractors shall conduct periodic reviews, on a schedule determined by the Secretary, of claims for laboratory tests prescribed by a physician or practitioner during the 12-month period preceding such review to identify physicians or other practitioners with respect to whom at least 90 percent of all laboratory tests prescribed by such physician or practitioner during such period were prescribed pursuant to a telehealth visit. (B) Audit In the case of a physician or practitioner identified under subparagraph (A), with respect to a 12-month period described in such subparagraph, the Medicare administrative contractors shall conduct audits of all claims for laboratory tests prescribed by such physicians or practitioners during such period to determine whether such claims comply with the requirements for coverage under this title. . 4. Requirement to submit NPI number for telehealth billing Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m) (1) in the first sentence of paragraph (1), by striking paragraph (8) paragraphs (8) and (9) (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (9) Requirement to submit NPI number for telehealth billing During the 2-year period beginning on the day after the last day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B), payment may not be made under this subsection for telehealth services furnished by a physician or practitioner unless such physician or practitioner submits a claim for payment under the national provider identification number assigned to such physician or practitioner. . 5. Federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics Section 1834(m)(8) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(8) (1) in the paragraph heading by inserting and the 2-year period after such emergency period period (2) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting and the 2-year period immediately following such emergency period 1135(g)(1)(B) (3) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: (B) Payment (i) In general A telehealth service furnished by a Federally qualified health center or a rural health clinic to an individual pursuant to this paragraph on or after the date of the enactment of this subparagraph shall be deemed to be so furnished to such individual as an outpatient of such clinic or facility (as applicable) for purposes of paragraph (1) or (3), respectively, of section 1861(aa) and payable as a Federally qualified health center service or rural health clinic service (as applicable) under the prospective payment system established under section 1834(o) or under section 1833(a)(3), respectively. (ii) Treatment of costs for FQHC PPS calculations and RHC AIR calculations Costs associated with the delivery of telehealth services by a Federally qualified health center or rural health clinic serving as a distant site pursuant to this paragraph shall be considered allowable costs for purposes of the prospective payment system established under section 1834(o) and any payment methodologies developed under section 1833(a)(3), as applicable. . 6. Telehealth flexibilities for critical access hospitals Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m) (1) in the first sentence of paragraph (1), by striking and (9) , (9) and (10) (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking paragraph (8) paragraphs (8) and (10) (3) in paragraph (4)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking paragraph (8) paragraphs (8) and (10) (B) in subparagraph (F)(i), by striking paragraph (8) paragraphs (8) and (10) (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (10) Telehealth flexibilities for critical access hospitals (A) In general During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this paragraph and ending on the date that is 2 years after the end of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B), the following shall apply: (i) The Secretary shall pay for telehealth services that are furnished via a telecommunications system by a critical access hospital, including any practitioner authorized to provide such services within the facility, that is a qualified provider (as defined in subparagraph (B)) to an eligible telehealth individual enrolled under this part notwithstanding that the critical access hospital providing the telehealth service is not at the same location as the beneficiary, if such services complement a plan of care that includes in-person care at some point, as may be appropriate. (ii) The amount of payment to a critical access hospital that serves as a distant site for such a telehealth service shall be determined under subparagraph (B). (iii) For purposes of this subsection— (I) the term distant site (II) the term qualified provider (III) the term telehealth services (B) Payment For purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), the amount of payment to a critical access hospital that serves as a distant site that furnishes a telehealth service to an eligible telehealth individual under this paragraph shall be equal to 101 percent of the reasonable costs of the hospital in providing such services, unless the hospital makes an election under paragraph (2) of section 1834(g) to be paid for such services based on the methodology described in such paragraph. Telehealth services furnished by a critical access hospital shall be counted for purposes of determining the provider productivity rate of the critical access hospital for purposes of payment under such section. (C) Implementation Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may implement this paragraph through program instruction, interim final rule, or otherwise. . 7. Use of telehealth for the dispensing of controlled substances by means of the internet Section 309(e)(2) of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 829(e)(2) (1) in subparagraph (A)(i)— (A) by striking at least 1 in-person medical evaluation at least— (I) 1 in-person medical evaluation ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (II) during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this subclause and ending on the date that is 2 years after the end of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B) ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (D) (i) The term telehealth evaluation 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m) (ii) Nothing in clause (i) shall be construed to imply that 1 telehealth evaluation demonstrates that a prescription has been issued for a legitimate medical purpose within the usual course of professional practice. (iii) A practitioner who prescribes the drugs or combination of drugs that are covered under section 303(g)(2)(C) using the authority under subparagraph (A)(i)(II) of this paragraph shall adhere to nationally recognized evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of patients with opioid use disorders and a diversion control plan, as those terms are defined in section 8.2 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment of this subparagraph. . 8. Study on the effects of changes to telehealth under the Medicare and Medicaid programs during the COVID–19 emergency (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B) (1) A summary of utilization of all health care services furnished under such part A or B during such emergency period, including the number of telehealth visits (broken down by service type, the number of such visits furnished via audio-visual technology, the number of such visits furnished via audio-only technology, and the number of such visits furnished by a Federally qualified health center, rural health clinic, or community health center, respectively, if practicable), in-person outpatient visits, inpatient admissions, and emergency department visits. (2) A description of any changes in utilization patterns for the care settings described in paragraph (1) over the course of such emergency period compared to such patterns prior to such emergency period. (3) An analysis of utilization of telehealth services under such part A or B during such emergency period, broken down by race and ethnicity, geographic region, and income level (as measured directly or indirectly, such as by patient’s zip code tabulation area median income as publicly reported by the United States Census Bureau), and of any trends in such utilization during such emergency period, so broken down. Such analysis may not include any personally identifiable information or protected health information. (4) A description of expenditures and any savings under such part A or B attributable to use of such telehealth services during such emergency period. (5) A description of any instances of fraud identified by the Secretary, acting through the Office of the Inspector General or other relevant agencies and departments, with respect to such telehealth services furnished under such part A or B during such emergency period and a comparison of the number of such instances with the number of instances of fraud so identified with respect to in-person services so furnished during such emergency period. (6) A description of any privacy concerns with respect to the furnishing of such telehealth services (such as cybersecurity or ransomware concerns), including a description of any actions taken by the Secretary, acting through the Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center or other relevant agencies and departments, during such emergency period to assist health care providers secure telecommunications systems. (7) Identification of common ICD–10 codes billed via telehealth, comparing measures of quality and outcomes between telehealth care and in-person care for the same category of service. (8) Recommendations regarding the permanency of the waivers and authorities under the provisions of, and amendments made by, this Act. (b) Consultation In conducting the study and submitting the report under subsection (a), the Secretary— (1) shall consult with— (A) the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission; (B) the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission; (C) the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services; and (D) other stakeholders determined appropriate by the Secretary, such as patients, tribal communities, medical professionals, health facilities, State medical boards, State nursing boards, telehealth providers, health professional liability providers, public and private payers, and State leaders; and (2) shall endeavor to include as many racially, ethnically, geographically, and professionally diverse perspectives as possible. (c) Final report Not later than 18 months after the end of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B) (1) update and finalize the interim report under subsection (a); and (2) submit such updated and finalized report to the committees specified in such subsection. (d) Grants for Medicaid reports (1) In general Not later than January 1, 2023, the Secretary shall award grants to States with a State plan (or waiver of such plan) in effect under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396r (2) Eligibility To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), a State shall— (A) provide benefits for telehealth services under the State plan (or waiver of such plan) in effect under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396r (B) be able to differentiate telehealth from in-person visits within claims data submitted under such plan (or such waiver) during such period; and (C) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information (including the amount of the grant requested) as the Secretary may require. (3) Use of funds A State shall use amounts received under a grant under this subsection to conduct a study and report findings regarding the effects of changes to telehealth services offered under the State plan (or waiver of such plan) of such State under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. (4) Reports (A) Interim report Not later 1 year after the date a State receives a grant under this subsection, the State shall submit to the Secretary an interim report that— (i) details any changes made to the provision or availability of telehealth benefits (such as eligibility, coverage, or payment changes) under the State plan (or waiver of such plan) of the State under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. (ii) contains— (I) a summary and description of the type described in paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, of subsection (a); and (II) to the extent practicable, an analysis of the type described in paragraph (3) of subsection (a), except that any reference in such subsection to such part A or B (B) Final report Not later than 3 years after the date a State receives a grant under this subsection, the State shall update and finalize the interim report and submit such final report to the Secretary. (C) Report by Secretary Not later than the earlier of the date that is 1 year after the submission of all final reports under subparagraph (B) and December 31, 2027, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the grant program, including a summary of the reports received from States under this paragraph. (5) Modification authority The Secretary may modify any deadline described in paragraph (4) or any information required to be included in a report made under this subsection to provide flexibility for States to modify the scope of the study and timeline for such reports. (6) Technical assistance The Secretary shall provide such technical assistance as may be necessary to a State receiving a grant under this subsection in order to assist such State in conducting studies and submitting reports under this subsection. (7) State For purposes of this subsection, the term State (e) Authorization of appropriations (1) Medicare For the purpose of carrying out subsections (a) through (c), there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. (2) Medicaid For the purpose of carrying out subsection (d), there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

Summary: Telehealth Extension and Evaluation Act This bill expands and otherwise modifies coverage of telehealth services under Medicare until two years after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Specifically, the bill (1) allows federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner), (2) allows for Medicare payment of outpatient critical access hospital services consisting of telehealth behavioral therapy, (3) conditions payment for certain high-cost laboratory tests and durable medical equipment that are ordered via telehealth on at least one in-person visit during the preceding 12-month period, and (4) allows Schedule II through V controlled substances to be prescribed online if a practitioner has conducted a telehealth evaluation with video. The bill also generally extends any Medicare telehealth flexibilities that were granted during the COVID-19 public health emergency until two years after the emergency ends. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must report on the effects of changes that were made during the emergency period with respect to the provision or availability of telehealth services under Medicare. The CMS must also award grants to state Medicaid programs to allow them to report on similar information.