I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3482 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the use of 
telehealth under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 27, 2017 
Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio (for himself and Ms. MATSUI) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and 
in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be sub-
sequently 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 XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand 
the use of telehealth under the Medicare 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 ‘‘Evidence-Based Tele-
health Expansion Act of 2017’’. 
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SEC. 2. EXPANDING THE USE OF TELEHEALTH THROUGH 
THE WAIVER OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS. 
Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) AUTHORITY
TO
WAIVE
REQUIREMENTS 
AND LIMITATIONS IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS MET.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of tele-
health services furnished on or after January 1, 
2018, the Secretary may waive any restriction 
applicable to the coverage of telehealth services 
under this subsection described in subpara-
graph (B) with respect to certain providers of 
services, suppliers, provider groups, sites of 
care, services, conditions, individuals receiving 
the services, or States, as determined by the 
Secretary, if each of the requirements described 
in subparagraph (C) is met with respect to the 
waiver. 
‘‘(B) 
RESTRICTIONS
DESCRIBED.—For 
purposes of this paragraph, restrictions applica-
ble to the coverage of telehealth services under 
this subsection shall include requirements relat-
ing to qualifications for an originating site 
under paragraph (4)(C)(ii), any geographic lim-
itations under paragraph (4)(C)(i) (other than 
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applicable State law requirements, including 
State licensure requirements), any limitation on 
the use of store-and-forward technologies de-
scribed in paragraph (1), any limitation on the 
type of health care provider who may furnish 
such services (other than the requirement that 
the provider is a Medicare-enrolled provider), or 
any limitation on specific codes designated as 
telehealth services that are covered under this 
title pursuant to this subsection (provided such 
codes are clinically appropriate to furnish re-
motely). 
‘‘(C) REQUIREMENTS FOR WAIVER.—The 
requirements described in this subparagraph 
are, with respect to the waiver of a restriction 
described in subparagraph (B), the following: 
‘‘(i) The Secretary determines that 
the waiver is expected to— 
‘‘(I) reduce spending under this 
title without reducing the quality of 
care; or 
‘‘(II) improve the quality of pa-
tient care without increasing spend-
ing. 
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‘‘(ii) The Chief Actuary of the Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services certifies 
that such waiver would reduce (or would 
not result in any increase in) net program 
spending under this title. 
‘‘(iii) The Secretary determines that 
such waiver would not deny or limit the 
coverage or provision of benefits under this 
title for individuals. 
‘‘(D) PUBLIC
COMMENT.—The Secretary 
shall establish a process by which stakeholders 
may (on at least an annual basis) submit re-
quests for a waiver under this paragraph.’’. 
Æ 
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