I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7149 
To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to require the Center for 
Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a model to improve access 
to specialty health services for certain Medicare and Medicaid bene-
ficiaries. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 30, 2024 
Mrs. STEEL (for herself, Ms. LEE of Nevada, Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania, 
Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina, Ms. CARAVEO, Mrs. CHA-
VEZ-DEREMER, Mr. BACON, Ms. DE LA CRUZ, Ms. SALINAS, and Mr. 
VALADAO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy 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 jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to require 
the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test 
a model to improve access to specialty health services 
for certain Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Equal Access to Spe-
cialty Care Everywhere Act of 2024’’ or the ‘‘EASE Act 
of 2024’’. 
SEC. 2. REQUIRING THE CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND MED-
ICAID INNOVATION TO TEST A MODEL TO IM-
PROVE ACCESS TO SPECIALTY HEALTH SERV-
ICES FOR CERTAIN MEDICARE AND MED-
ICAID BENEFICIARIES. 
Section 1115A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1315a) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), in the third sen-
tence, by inserting ‘‘, and shall include the 
model described in subparagraph (B)(xxviii)’’ 
before the period at the end; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by adding at the 
end the following new clause: 
‘‘(xxviii) The Specialty Health Care 
Services Access Model described in sub-
section (h).’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(h) SPECIALTY HEALTH CARE SERVICES ACCESS 
MODEL.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of subsection 
(b)(2)(B)(xxviii), the Specialty Health Care Services 
Access Model described in this subsection is a model 
under which the Secretary enters into an agreement 
one or more provider networks selected in accord-
ance with paragraph (2) for purposes of furnishing 
specialty health care services (as specified by the 
Secretary) to eligible individuals through the use of 
digital modalities (such as telehealth and other re-
mote technologies) in coordination with such individ-
uals’ primary care providers. 
‘‘(2) SELECTION OF PROVIDER NETWORKS.— 
The Secretary shall select one or more networks of 
providers for purposes of furnishing services under 
the model described in paragraph (1). Any such net-
work so selected shall— 
‘‘(A) be comprised of at least 50 Federally 
qualified health centers, rural health clinics, or 
community health clinics; 
‘‘(B) be a nonprofit entity under section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986; 
‘‘(C) have an established record of sup-
porting the delivery of health care and address-
ing social determinants of health in underserved 
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communities in multiple regions throughout the 
country; and 
‘‘(D) agree to support public health and 
serve as a national clinical research network, in-
cluding by conducting research with respect to 
both insured and uninsured individuals. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE
INDIVIDUAL
DEFINED.—For 
purposes of this subsection, the term ‘eligible indi-
vidual’ means an individual— 
‘‘(A) entitled to benefits under part A of 
title XVIII, enrolled under part B of such title, 
or enrolled under a State plan (or waiver of 
such plan) under title XIX; and 
‘‘(B) located in a rural or underserved area 
(as specified by the Secretary).’’. 
Æ 
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