I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4900 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a national telehealth 
program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 29, 2019 
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee (for himself and Mr. KUSTOFF of Tennessee) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and 
Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a 
national telehealth program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Telehealth Across 
State Lines Act of 2019’’. 
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SEC. 2. NATIONAL TELEHEALTH PROGRAM. 
Subpart I of part D of title III of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 330N. NATIONAL TELEHEALTH PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) UNIFORM NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, in con-
sultation 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; 
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‘‘(G) Federally qualified health centers, as 
defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Secu-
rity Act; 
‘‘(H) State, local, or tribal health depart-
ments; 
‘‘(I) critical access hospitals; and 
‘‘(J) any Federal agency with expertise in 
the provision of telecommunications or tele-
health. 
‘‘(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, Edu-
cation, 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 re-
ceive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall— 
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‘‘(A) demonstrate that it is operating, on 
the date on which the entity submits an appli-
cation under subparagraph (B), an effective 
telehealth program (as determined in accord-
ance with criteria established by the Secretary); 
and 
‘‘(B) submit an application to the Sec-
retary at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining 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 pro-
gram under this subsection, including the suc-
cesses and challenges of the program, lessons 
the Secretary has learned with respect to the 
program, and best practices for telehealth pro-
grams; and 
‘‘(B) submit a report on such study to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on 
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Energy and Commerce of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
‘‘(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’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 330J(e).’’. 
SEC. 3. CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID INNOVA-
TION (CMMI) MODEL TO INCENTIVIZE THE 
ADOPTION OF TELEHEALTH IN ORDER TO IN-
CREASE ACCESS TO CARE IN RURAL AREAS. 
Section 1115A(b)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395a(b)(2)(B)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new clause: 
‘‘(xxviii) Providing incentives under 
title XVIII to encourage the adoption of 
telehealth in order to increase access to 
care in rural areas.’’. 
Æ 
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