Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2015

To promote and expand the application of telehealth under Medicare and other Federal health care programs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2015 (b) Table of contents The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Title I—Strengthening Medicare through telehealth Sec. 101. Positive incentive for Medicare’s hospital readmissions reduction program. Sec. 102. Health homes and medical homes. Sec. 103. Flexibility in accountable care organizations coverage of telehealth. Sec. 104. Recognizing telehealth services and remote patient monitoring in national pilot program on payment bundling. Sec. 105. Additional sites to be considered originating sites for purposes of payments for telehealth services under Medicare. Title II—Enhancing Medicaid through telehealth Sec. 201. Medicaid option for high-risk pregnancies and births. Title III—Improving telecommunications for medical delivery Sec. 301. Additional providers considered health care providers for purposes of universal service support. Sec. 302. No consideration of provider location in rules enhancing health care provider access to advanced telecommunications and information services. I Strengthening Medicare through telehealth 101. Positive incentive for Medicare’s hospital readmissions reduction program Section 1886(q) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(q) (9) Positive incentive for reduced readmissions (A) In general With respect to payment for discharges occurring during a fiscal year beginning on or after October 1, 2015, in order to provide a positive incentive for hospitals described in subparagraph (B) to lower their excess readmission ratios, the Secretary shall make an additional payment to a hospital in such proportion as provides for a sharing of the savings from such better-than-expected performance between the hospital and the program under this title. (B) Hospital described A hospital described in this subparagraph is an applicable hospital (as defined in paragraph (5)(C)) not subject to a payment change under paragraph (1) and for which the positive readmission ratio (described in subparagraph (C)) is greater than 1. (C) Positive readmission ratio The positive readmission ratio described in this subparagraph for a hospital is the ratio of— (i) the risk adjusted expected readmissions (described in subclause (II) of paragraph (4)(C)(i)); to (ii) the risk adjusted readmissions based on actual readmissions (described in subclause (I) of such paragraph). . 102. Health homes and medical homes (a) Medicare chronic care counterpart to Medicaid health home (1) In general Title XVIII of the Social Security Act is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1899C. Medicare health home for individuals with chronic conditions (a) In general In the case of a State that has amended its State plan under title XIX in accordance with the option described in section 1945, the Secretary may contract with the State medical assistance agency with a program under such section to serve eligible individuals with chronic conditions who select a designated provider, a team of health care professionals operating with such a provider, or a health team as the individual’s health home for purposes of providing the individual with health home services in the same manner as provided under its State plan amendment. (b) Health home qualification standards The standards established by the Secretary under section 1945(b) for qualification as a designated provider shall apply under this section for the purpose of being eligible to be a health home for purposes of section 1945. (c) Payments Payments shall be made under this section in the same manner to a provider or team as payments are made under subsection (c) of section 1945, including the use of the payment methodology described in paragraph (2) of such subsection. (d) Hospital referrals Hospitals that are participating providers under this section shall establish procedures for referring any eligible individuals with chronic conditions who seek or need treatment in a hospital emergency department to designated providers in the same manner as required under section 1945(d). (e) Monitoring and report on quality The methodology and proposal required under subsection (f) of section 1945 and the report on quality measures under subsection (f) of such section shall also apply under this section. (f) Report on quality measures As a condition for receiving payment for health home services provided to an eligible individual with chronic conditions, a designated provider shall report, in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary shall specify, including a plan for the use of remote patient monitoring, on all applicable measures for determining the quality of such services. When appropriate and feasible, a designated provider shall use health information technology in providing the Secretary with such information. (g) Definitions In this section, the provisions and definitions contained in subsection (h) of section 1945 shall also apply for purposes of this section except that, instead of the requirement specified in clause (i) of subsection (h)(1)(A) of such section, an individual must be eligible for services under parts A and B and covered for medical assistance for health home services under section 1945 in order to be an eligible individual with chronic conditions. (h) Evidence-Based and reporting In contracting with a State under this section, the State— (1) shall follow evidence-based guidelines for chronic care; and (2) shall report at least by the end of every month data specified by the Secretary, including an assessment of the use of remote patient monitoring and quality measures of process, outcome, and structure. (i) Waiver authority (1) In general The limitations on telehealth under section 1834(m) shall not apply for purposes of this section. (2) Secretary authority The Secretary may waive such other requirements of this title and title XIX as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. . (2) Reporting (A) In general Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall survey States contracting under section 1899B of the Social Security Act, as added by paragraph (1), on the nature, extent, and use of the option under such section particularly as it pertains to— (i) hospital admission rates; (ii) chronic disease management; (iii) coordination of care for individuals with chronic conditions; (iv) assessment of program implementation; (v) processes and lessons learned (as described in subparagraph (B)); (vi) assessment of quality improvements and clinical outcomes under such option; and (vii) estimates of cost savings. (B) Implementation reporting Such a State shall report to the Secretary, as necessary, on processes that have been developed and lessons learned regarding provision of coordinated care through a health home for beneficiaries with chronic conditions under such option. (b) Specialty medical homes Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1899D. Specialty medical homes (a) In general Beginning not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary may contract with a national or multi-state regional center of excellence with a network of affiliated local providers to provide through one or more medical homes for targeted, accessible, continuous, and coordinated care to individuals under this title and title XIX with a long-term illness or medical condition that requires regular medical treatment, advising, and monitoring. (b) Medical home defined In this section, the term medical home (1) specializes in the care for a specific long-term illness or medical condition, including related comorbidities; (2) leads the development of related evidence-based clinical standards and research; (3) has a network of affiliated personal physicians and patient treatment facilities; (4) maintains an online Web site for patient and provider communication and collaboration and patient access to the patient’s health information; (5) has a plan for use of health information technology in providing services under this section and improving service delivery and coordination across the care continuum (including the use of wireless patient technology to improve coordination and remote patient monitoring management of care and patient adherence to recommendations made by their provider); (6) provides deidentified demographic data sets for clinical, statistical, and social science research to develop culturally competent best practices and clinical decision support mechanisms for the long-term illness or medical condition; (7) uses a health assessment tool for the individuals targeted, including a means for identifying those most likely to benefit from remote patient monitoring; and (8) provides training programs for personnel involved in the coordination of care. (c) Personal physician defined (1) In general In this section, the term personal physician (2) General requirements The requirements described in this paragraph for a personal physician for care of an individual are as follows: (A) The physician is board certified for care of the specific illness or condition of the individual and manages continuous care for the individual. (B) The physician has the staff and resources to manage the comprehensive and coordinated health care of such individual. (3) Service-related requirements The requirements described in this paragraph for a personal physician are as follows: (A) The personal physician advocates for and provides ongoing support, oversight, and guidance to implement a plan of care that provides an integrated, coherent, cross-discipline plan for ongoing medical care developed in partnership with patients and including all other physicians furnishing care to the patient involved and other appropriate medical personnel or agencies (such as home health agencies). (B) The personal physician uses evidence-based medicine and clinical decision support tools to guide decisionmaking at the point-of-care based on patient-specific factors. (C) The personal physician is in compliance with the standards for meaningful use of electronic health records under this title. (D) The personal physician participates with the State’s health information exchange, as available, or the federally sponsored Direct Project. (E) The personal physician uses health information technology, including appropriate remote monitoring, to monitor and track the health status of patients and to provide patients with enhanced and convenient access to health care services. (F) The personal physician uses electronic prescribing and provides medication management. (G) The personal physician encourages patients to engage in the management of their own health through education and support systems. (H) The personal physician utilizes the services of related health professionals, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants. (d) Long-Term illness or medical condition defined In this section, the term long-term illness or medical condition (1) includes a chronic condition which meets criteria specified by the Secretary for a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals; and (2) also includes another condition that the Secretary determines would provide a beneficial focus for an effective and efficient medical home. (e) Payment mechanisms (1) Medical home care management fee and medical home sharing in savings Except as provided in paragraph (2)— (A) Medical home care management fee Under this section the Secretary shall provide for payment under section 1848 of a care management fee to the medical home and may include performance incentives. The medical home shall arrange for payment for the services of affiliated physicians and facilities. (B) Medical home sharing in savings The Secretary shall provide for payment under this section of a medical home based on the payment methodology applied to health group practices under section 1866A. Under such methodology, 80 percent of the reductions in expenditures under this title and title XIX resulting from participation of individuals that are attributable to the medical home (as reduced by the total care management fees paid to the medical home under this section) shall be paid to the medical home. The amount of such reductions in expenditures shall be determined by using assumptions with respect to reductions in the occurrence of health complications, hospitalization rates, medical errors, and adverse drug reactions. (2) Alternative payment model (A) In general The Secretary may provide for payment under this paragraph instead of the amounts otherwise payable under paragraph (1). (B) Establishment of target spending level For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary shall compute an estimated annual spending target based on the amount the Secretary estimates would have been spent in the absence of this section, for items and services covered under parts A and B furnished to applicable beneficiaries for each qualifying medical home under this section. Such spending targets shall be determined on a per capita basis. Such spending targets shall include a risk corridor that takes into account normal variation in expenditures for items and services covered under parts A and B furnished to such beneficiaries with the size of the corridor being related to the number of applicable beneficiaries furnished services by each medical home. The spending targets may also be adjusted for such other factors as the Secretary determines appropriate. (C) Incentive payments Subject to performance on quality measures, a qualifying medical home is eligible to receive an incentive payment under this section if actual expenditures for a year for the applicable beneficiaries it enrolls are less than the estimated spending target established under subparagraph (B) for such year. An incentive payment for such year shall be equal to a portion (as determined by the Secretary) of the amount by which actual expenditures (including incentive payments under this paragraph) for applicable beneficiaries under parts A and B for such year are estimated to be less than 95 percent of the estimated spending target for such year, as determined under subparagraph (B). (3) Source Payments paid under this section shall be made in appropriate proportions (as specified by the Secretary) from the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund, and funds appropriated to carry out title XIX. (f) Evidence-Based The contracting entity shall follow evidence-based guidelines for care of the long-term illness or medical condition under this section. (g) Patient services quality and performance reporting The contracting entity shall report at least by the end of every month data specified by the Secretary on the operation of this section, including quality measures of process, outcome, and structure. (h) Waiver authority (1) In general The limitations on telehealth under section 1834(m) shall not apply for purposes of this section. (2) Secretary authority The Secretary may waive such other requirements of this title and title XIX as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. . 103. Flexibility in accountable care organizations coverage of telehealth Section 1899 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395jjj (l) Flexibility for telehealth (1) Provision as supplemental benefits Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an ACO may include coverage of telehealth and remote patient monitoring services as supplemental health care benefits to the same extent as a Medicare Advantage plan is permitted to provide coverage of such services as supplemental health care benefits under section 1852(a)(3)(A). (2) Provision in connection with home health services Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing an ACO from including payments for remote patient monitoring and home-based video conferencing services in connection with the provision of home health services (under conditions for which payment for such services would not be made under section 1895 for such services) in a manner that is financially equivalent to the furnishing of a home health visit. . 104. Recognizing telehealth services and remote patient monitoring in national pilot program on payment bundling Section 1866D(a)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395cc–4(a)(2) (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking 10 conditions the conditions (2) in subparagraph (C)— (A) by redesignating clause (v) as clause (vi); and (B) by inserting after clause (iv) the following new clause: (v) Telehealth and remote patient monitoring services. ; and (3) in subparagraph (D)(i)(III), by inserting before the period at the end the following: (and such longer period in the case of the use of telehealth and remote patient monitoring services as the Secretary may specify) 105. Additional sites to be considered originating sites for purposes of payments for telehealth services under Medicare (a) In general Section 1834(m)(4) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4) (1) in subparagraph (C)— (A) in clause (i), by striking The term Subject to clause (iii), the term (B) by adding at the end the following new clause: (iii) Additional originating sites The term originating site (I) A critical access hospital (as described in clause (ii)(II)). (II) A sole community hospital (as defined in section 1886(d)(5)(D)(iii)). (III) A home telehealth site (as defined in subparagraph (G)(i)). (IV) A site described in clause (ii) that is located in a county with a population of less than 25,000, according to the most recent decennial census or in an area that was not included in a Metropolitan Statistical Area on any date in 2000. (V) A site described in clause (ii) with respect to services related to the evaluation or treatment of an acute stroke. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (G) Home telehealth site (i) Home telehealth site The term home telehealth site (ii) Telehealth services described A telehealth service described in this clause is a telehealth service that is— (I) related to the provision of hospice care or home dialysis; or (II) furnished to an individual who is determined to be homebound (as defined for purposes of sections 1814(a)(2)(C) and 1835(a)(2)(A)(i)), including such an individual for whom a certification or recertification described in such section is in effect with respect to home health services. . (b) No originating site facility fee for new sites Section 1834(m)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(2)(B) the originating site (other than an additional originating site described in paragraph (4)(C)(iii)) (c) Application of telecommunication systems definition to critical access hospitals and sole community hospitals The second sentence of section 1834(m)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m) any telehealth services furnished or received at a critical access hospital (as described in paragraph (4)(C)(ii)(II)) or a sole community hospital (as defined in section 1886(d)(5)(D)(iii)) or of in the case of (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2016. II Enhancing Medicaid through telehealth 201. Medicaid option for high-risk pregnancies and births (a) In general Title XIX of the Social Security Act is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 1947. State option to provide coordinated care for enrollees with high-risk pregnancies and births (a) In general Notwithstanding section 1902(a)(1) (relating to statewideness), section 1902(a)(10)(B) (relating to comparability), and any other provision of this title for which the Secretary determines it is necessary to waive in order to implement this section, beginning 6 months after the date of the enactment of this section, a State, at its option as a State plan amendment, may provide for medical assistance under this title to eligible individuals for maternal-fetal and neonatal care who select a designated provider (as described under subsection (h)(5)), a team of health care professionals (as described under subsection (h)(6)) operating with such a provider, or a health team (as described under subsection (h)(7)) as the individual’s birthing network for purposes of providing the individual with pregnancy-related services. (b) Qualification standards The Secretary shall establish standards for qualification as a designated provider for the purpose of being eligible to be a birthing network for purposes of this section. (c) Payments (1) In general A State shall provide a designated provider, a team of health care professionals operating with such a provider, or a health team with payments for the provision of birthing network services to each eligible individual for maternal-fetal and neonatal care that selects such provider, team of health care professionals, or health team as the individual’s birthing network. Payments made to a designated provider, a team of health care professionals operating with such a provider, or a health team for such services shall be treated as medical assistance for purposes of section 1903(a), except that, during the first 8 fiscal year quarters that the State plan amendment is in effect, the Federal medical assistance percentage applicable to such payments shall be equal to 90 percent. (2) Savings target As a condition for approval of a State plan amendment and payment methodology under this section, the State shall provide the Secretary with assurances that the amendment and methodology shall be projected to reduce the amount of expenditures for pregnancy-related services otherwise made under this title by one percent for each 4-calendar-quarter period during the first 40 calendar quarters in which the amendment is in effect. (3) Methodology (A) In general The State shall specify in the State plan amendment the methodology the State will use for determining payment for the provision of birthing network services. Such methodology for determining payment shall be established consistent with section 1902(a)(30)(A). (B) Innovative models of payment The methodology for determining payment for provision of birthing network services under this section shall not be limited to a per-member per-month basis and may provide (as proposed by the State and subject to approval by the Secretary) for alternate models of payment, including bundled per episode, performance incentives, and shared savings. (4) Planning grants (A) In general Beginning 30 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary may award planning grants to States for purposes of developing a State plan amendment under this section. A planning grant awarded to a State or a multi-state collaborative under this paragraph shall remain available until expended. (B) Limitation The total amount of payments made to States under this paragraph shall not exceed $25,000,000. (d) Report on quality measures As a condition for receiving payment for birthing network services provided to an eligible individual for maternal-fetal and neonatal care, a designated provider shall report monthly to the State, in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary shall specify, on all applicable measures for determining the quality of such services. When appropriate and feasible, a designated provider shall use health information technology in providing the State with such information. (e) Evidence-Based The birthing network shall adapt, update, and follow evidence-based guidelines for maternal-fetal and neonatal care. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible individual for maternal-fetal and neonatal care (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the term eligible individual (i) is eligible for medical assistance under the State plan or under a waiver of such plan; and (ii) (I) is pregnant (or was pregnant during the immediately preceding 30-day period); or (II) is the child of an individual described in clause (i) and under 30 days old. (B) Rule of construction Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the Secretary from establishing other requirements for purposes of determining eligibility for receipt of birthing network services under this section. (2) Birthing network The term birthing network (3) Birthing network services (A) In general The term birthing network services (B) Services described The services described in this subparagraph are— (i) comprehensive care coordination; (ii) health promotion; (iii) a call center to offer 24-hour physician support for consultations with maternal-fetal medicine specialists, when requested, regarding patient management issues; (iv) newborn screening, including for heart defects and to reduce newborn hospital readmissions; (v) patient and family support (including authorized representatives); (vi) referral to community and social support services, if relevant; and (vii) use of health information technology to link services and provide monitoring, as feasible and appropriate. (4) Designated provider The term designated provider (A) has the systems and infrastructure in place to provide birthing network services; and (B) satisfies the qualification standards established by the Secretary under subsection (b) and paragraph (7)(B). (5) Team of health care professionals The term team of health care professionals (A) include physicians and other professionals, such as a nurse care coordinator, midwife, nutritionist, social worker, behavioral health professional, or any professionals deemed appropriate by the State; and (B) be free standing, virtual, or based at a hospital, community health center, rural clinic, clinical practice or clinical group practice, academic health center, or any entity deemed appropriate by the State and approved by the Secretary. (6) Health team The term health team (7) Birthing data and exchange (A) Proposal for use of health information technology A State shall include in the State plan amendment a proposal for use of health information technology in providing birthing network services under this section and improving service delivery and coordination across the care continuum (including the use of wireless patient technology to improve coordination and management of care and patient adherence to recommendations made by their provider). (B) Information requirements for birthing networks The birthing network shall— (i) be in compliance with the Medicaid standards for meaningful use of electronic health records; (ii) participate with the State’s health information exchange, as available, or operate an exchange among the birthing network; (iii) collect demographic information on participating newborns and mothers; (iv) use demographic and event-based data to identify patients that are likely going to need short or long-term follow-up; and (v) providing de-identified demographic data sets for statistical and social science research to develop culturally competent best practices and clinical decision support mechanisms for maternal-fetal and neonatal care. . (b) Patient services quality and performance reporting (1) In general Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall survey States that have elected the option under section 1947 of the Social Security Act, as added by section (a), on the nature, extent, and use of such option, particularly as it pertains to— (A) terms of pregnancies; (B) use of prenatal fetal monitoring; (C) use of Caesarean section procedures; (D) use of neonatal intensive care services; (E) incidence of birthing complications; (F) incidence of infant and maternal mortality; (G) coordination of maternal-fetal and neonatal care for individuals; (H) assessment of program implementation; (I) processes and lessons learned (as described in subparagraph (B)); (J) assessment of quality improvements and clinical outcomes under such option; and (K) participating mothers’ assessment of performance, quality, convenience, and satisfaction. (2) Implementation reporting A State that has elected the option under such section shall report to the Secretary, as necessary, on processes that have been developed and lessons learned regarding provision of coordinated care through a birthing network for Medicaid beneficiaries for maternal-fetal and neonatal care under such option. III Improving telecommunications for medical delivery 301. Additional providers considered health care providers for purposes of universal service support Subparagraph (B) of section 254(h)(7) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 254(h)(7) (1) in clause (vi), by striking and (2) in clause (vii), by striking clauses (i) through (vi) clauses (i) through (ix) (3) by redesignating clause (vii) as clause (x); and (4) by inserting after clause (vi) the following new clauses: (vii) ambulance providers and other emergency medical transport providers; (viii) health clinics of elementary and secondary schools and post-secondary educational institutions; (ix) sites where telehealth services are provided under section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m) 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. . 302. No consideration of provider location in rules enhancing health care provider access to advanced telecommunications and information services Section 254(h)(2)(A) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 254(h)(2)(A) (regardless of the location of such providers) health care providers

Summary: Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2015 Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in order to provide a positive incentive for certain hospitals to lower their excess readmission ratios for inpatient services, to make an additional payment to a hospital in such proportion that provides for a sharing of the savings from better-than-expected performance between the hospital and the Medicare program. Authorizes the Secretary, in the case of a state that has amended its Medicaid plan to provide coordinated care through a health home for individuals with chronic conditions, to contract with the state medical assistance agency to serve eligible individuals with chronic conditions who select a designated provider, a team of health care professionals operating with such a provider, or a health team as the individual's health home. Authorizes the Secretary to contract with a national or multi-state regional center of excellence with a network of affiliated local providers to provide through one or more medical homes for targeted, accessible, continuous, and coordinated care to individuals under Medicare and Medicaid with a long-term illness or medical condition that requires regular medical treatment, advising, and monitoring. Authorizes an Accountable Care Organization to include coverage of telehealth and remote patient monitoring services as supplemental health care benefits to the same extent as a Medicare Advantage plan is permitted to provide such coverage of such services as supplemental health care. Recognizes telehealth services and remote patient monitoring in the national pilot program on payment bundling. Includes among originating sites (at which an eligible telehealth individual is located at the time a service is furnished via a telecommunications system), but without receiving payment of a facility fee, any critical access hospitals, sole community hospitals, home telehealth sites, as well as specified others. Amends SSAct title XIX (Medicaid) to give states the option to provide coordinated care for enrollees with high-risk pregnancies and births. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to specify additional health care providers to which universal telecommunications service support must be provided. Requires Federal Communications Commission rules for enhancing health care provider access to advanced telecommunications and information services to disregard provider location.