SEC. 2. EXPANDING ACCESSIBILITY TO CERTAIN TELE-
HEALTH SERVICES UNDER THE MEDICARE 
PROGRAM. 
(a) USE
OF AUDIO-ONLY TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
SYSTEMS FOR CERTAIN SERVICES.—Section 1834(m)(4) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subpara-
graph: 
‘‘(G) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘tele-
communications system’ includes, in the 
case of a qualified provider (as defined in 
clause (ii)) furnishing a specified telehealth 
service (as defined in such clause) to an in-
dividual, a communications system con-
sisting only of audio capabilities, but only 
if such individual elects to use such system 
in lieu of a communications system pro-
viding both audio and visual capabilities. 
‘‘(ii) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of 
clause (i): 
‘‘(I) QUALIFIED PROVIDER.—The 
term ‘qualified provider’ means, with 
respect to a telehealth service fur-
nished to an individual, a physician or 
practitioner who— 
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‘‘(aa) furnished to such indi-
vidual an item or service (other 
than such telehealth service) in- 
person, or through a communica-
tions system consisting of both 
audio and visual capabilities, dur-
ing the 3-year period ending on 
the date such telehealth service 
was furnished; or 
‘‘(bb) is in the same practice 
(as determined by tax identifica-
tion number) of a physician or 
practitioner described in item 
(aa). 
‘‘(II) SPECIFIED
TELEHEALTH 
SERVICE.—The term ‘specified tele-
health service’ means a telehealth 
service consisting of— 
‘‘(aa) evaluation and man-
agement services; 
‘‘(bb) mental and behavioral 
health services; 
‘‘(cc) substance use disorder 
services; or 
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‘‘(dd) any other service spec-
ified by the Secretary. 
Such term does not include commu-
nication of lab results from a physi-
cian or practitioner to an individual 
via a telecommunications system un-
less such communication involves a di-
agnosis of such individual based on 
such results or the prescription, or 
modification of a prescription, of a 
drug based on such results.’’. 
(b) NONAPPLICATION
OF ORIGINATING SITE RE-
QUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES 
UNDER MEDICARE PROGRAM.—Section 1834(m)(4)(C) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(C)) is 
amended— 
(1) in clause (i), by inserting before ‘‘para-
graphs (5), (6), and (7)’’ the following: ‘‘clause (iii) 
and’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
clause: 
‘‘(iii) NONAPPLICATION
OF
ORIGI-
NATING SITE REQUIREMENTS.—Beginning 
on the first day of the emergency period 
described in section 1135(g)(1)(B), the 
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term ‘originating site’ means any site at 
which the eligible telehealth individual is 
located at the time the service is furnished 
via a telecommunications system.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to telehealth serv-
ices furnished after the last day of the emergency period 
described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B)). 
Æ 
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