I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2725 
To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to expand the use of 
telehealth under the TRICARE program and in the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 10, 2015 
Mr. PETERS (for himself, Mr. HONDA, Mr. POLIS, and Mr. JONES) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to expand 
the use of telehealth under the TRICARE program and 
in the Department of Veterans Affairs, 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 ‘‘21st Century Care for 
Military and Veterans Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. TELEHEALTH UNDER TRICARE PROGRAM. 
(a) CARE PROVIDED AT MILITARY MEDICAL TREAT-
MENT FACILITIES.—Section 1077 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(g) In providing health care to a covered beneficiary 
under section 1076 of this title at a military medical treat-
ment facility, the Secretary may furnish an item or service 
to the covered beneficiary via a telecommunications sys-
tem.’’. 
(b) CARE PROVIDED AT PRIVATE FACILITIES.— 
(1) CERTAIN DEPENDENTS.—Section 1079 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(q)(1) An item or service furnished to a covered ben-
eficiary via a telecommunications system shall be covered 
by a plan described in paragraph (2) to the same extent 
the item or service would be covered if furnished in the 
same location of the covered beneficiary, and benefits shall 
not be denied under such a plan solely on the basis that 
the item or service is being furnished via a telecommuni-
cations system. For the purposes of reimbursement, licen-
sure, professional liability, and other purposes under this 
section with respect to the provision of telehealth services, 
practitioners, suppliers, and providers of such services are 
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considered to be furnishing such services at their location 
and not at the originating site. 
‘‘(2) A plan described in this paragraph is a plan for 
which the Secretary enters into a contract under sub-
section (a) to provide dependents with medical care.’’. 
(2) CERTAIN
MEMBERS
AND
FORMER
MEM-
BERS.—Section 1086 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(i)(1) An item or service furnished to a covered ben-
eficiary via a telecommunications system shall be covered 
by a plan described in paragraph (2) to the same extent 
the item or service would be covered if furnished in the 
same location of the covered beneficiary, and benefits shall 
not be denied under such a plan solely on the basis that 
the item or service is being furnished via a telecommuni-
cations system. For the purposes of reimbursement, licen-
sure, professional liability, and other purposes under this 
section with respect to the provision of telehealth services, 
practitioners, suppliers, and providers of such services are 
considered to be furnishing such services at their location 
and not at the originating site. 
‘‘(2) A plan described in this paragraph is a plan for 
which the Secretary enters into a contract under sub-
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section (a) to provide persons covered by subsection (c) 
with health benefits.’’. 
SEC. 3. HEALTH CARE PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 
38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after sec-
tion 1709A the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1709B. Provision of health care via telecommuni-
cations system 
‘‘(a) DIRECT CARE.—In providing health care di-
rectly to an individual under this chapter or chapter 18 
of this title, the Secretary may furnish an item or service 
to the individual via a telecommunications system. 
‘‘(b) CONTRACTED CARE.—(1) An item or service 
furnished to an individual covered by a plan described in 
paragraph (2) via a telecommunications system shall be 
covered by such a plan to the same extent the item or 
service would be covered if furnished in the same location 
of the individual, and benefits shall not be denied under 
such a plan solely on the basis that the item or service 
is being furnished via a telecommunications system. For 
the purposes of reimbursement, licensure, professional li-
ability, and other purposes under this chapter and chapter 
18 with respect to the provision of telehealth services, 
practitioners, suppliers, and providers of such services are 
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considered to be furnishing such services at their location 
and not at the originating site. 
‘‘(2) A plan described in this paragraph is a plan for 
which the Secretary enters into a contract or agreement 
under this chapter or chapter 18 of this title to furnish 
health care to an individual.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1709A the following new 
item: 
‘‘1709B. Provision of health care via telecommunications system.’’. 
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
The amendments made by this Act shall take effect 
on January 1, 2016, and shall apply to items and services 
furnished on or after such date. 
Æ 
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