I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8489 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend certain telehealth 
services and requirements, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 26, 2022 
Mr. SCHWEIKERT (for himself, Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS, and Mr. CARTER of 
Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend 
certain telehealth services and requirements, 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 ‘‘Greater Access to Tele-
health Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. REMOVING GEOGRAPHIC REQUIREMENTS AND EX-
PANDING ORIGINATING SITES FOR TELE-
HEALTH SERVICES. 
Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)(B)(iii)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘With’’ and inserting ‘‘In 
the case that the emergency period described in 
section 1135(g)(1)(B) ends before December 
31, 2026, with’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘that are furnished during 
the 151-day period beginning on the first day 
after the end of the emergency period described 
in section 1135(g)(1)(B)’’ and inserting ‘‘that 
are furnished during the period beginning on 
the first day after the end of such emergency 
period and ending December 31, 2026’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4)(C)(iii)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘With’’ and inserting ‘‘In 
the case that the emergency period described in 
section 1135(g)(1)(B) ends before December 
31, 2026, with’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘that are furnished during 
the 151-day period beginning on the first day 
after the end of the emergency period described 
in section 1135(g)(1)(B)’’ and inserting ‘‘that 
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are furnished during the period beginning on 
the first day after the end of such emergency 
period and ending on December 31, 2026’’. 
SEC. 3. EXPANDING PRACTITIONERS ELIGIBLE TO FUR-
NISH TELEHEALTH SERVICES. 
Section 1834(m)(4)(E) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(E)) is amended by striking ‘‘and, for 
the 151-day period beginning on the first day after the 
end of the emergency period described in section 
1135(g)(1)(B)’’ and inserting ‘‘and, in the case that the 
emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) ends 
before December 31, 2026, for the period beginning on 
the first day after the end of such emergency period and 
ending on December 31, 2026’’. 
SEC. 4. EXTENDING TELEHEALTH SERVICES FOR FEDER-
ALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS AND 
RURAL HEALTH CLINICS. 
Section 1834(m)(8)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395m(m)(8)(A)) is amended by striking ‘‘during 
the 151-day period beginning on the first day after the 
end of such emergency period’’ and inserting ‘‘in the case 
that such emergency period ends before December 31, 
2026, during the period beginning on the first day after 
the end of such emergency period and ending on December 
31, 2026’’. 
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(c) MENTAL HEALTH VISITS FURNISHED BY FEDER-
ALLY
QUALIFIED
HEALTH
CENTERS.—Section 
1834(o)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395m(o)(4)) is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘TO HOSPICE 
PATIENTS’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘prior to 
the day that is the 152nd day after the end of the 
emergency 
period 
described 
in 
section 
1135(g)(1)(B))’’ and inserting ‘‘prior to January 1, 
2027 (or, if later, the first day after the end of the 
emergency 
period 
described 
in 
section 
1135(g)(1)(B))’’. 
SEC. 6. ALLOWING FOR THE FURNISHING OF AUDIO-ONLY 
TELEHEALTH SERVICES. 
Section 1834(m)(9) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395m(m)(9)) is amended by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary shall continue to provide coverage and payment 
under this part for telehealth services identified in para-
graph (4)(F)(i) as of the date of the enactment of this 
paragraph that are furnished via an audio-only tele-
communications system during the 151-day period begin-
ning on the first day after the end of the emergency period 
described in section 1135(g)(1)(B)’’ and inserting ‘‘In the 
case that the emergency period described in section 
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1135(g)(1)(B) ends before December 31, 2026, the Sec-
retary shall continue to provide coverage and payment 
under this part for telehealth services identified in para-
graph (4)(F)(i) that are furnished via an audio-only com-
munications system during the period beginning on the 
first day after the end of such emergency period and end-
ing on December 31, 2026’’. 
SEC. 7. USE OF TELEHEALTH TO CONDUCT FACE-TO-FACE 
ENCOUNTER PRIOR TO RECERTIFICATION OF 
ELIGIBILITY FOR HOSPICE CARE DURING 
EMERGENCY PERIOD. 
Section 1814(a)(7)(D)(i)(II) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)(7)(D)(i)(II)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘and during the 151-day period beginning on the 
first day after the end of such emergency period’’ and in-
serting ‘‘and, in the case that such emergency period ends 
before December 31, 2026, during the period beginning 
on the first day after the end of such emergency period 
described in such section 1135(g)(1)(B) and ending on 
December 31, 2026’’. 
SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF SAFE HARBOR FOR ABSENCE OF DE-
DUCTIBLE FOR TELEHEALTH. 
Section 223(c)(2)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 is amended by striking ‘‘and before January 1, 
2023,’’ and inserting ‘‘and before January 1, 2027,’’. 
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SEC. 9. FUNDING FROM MEDICARE IMPROVEMENT FUND. 
Section 1898(b)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 
1395jjj(b)(1)) 
is 
amended 
by 
striking 
‘‘$7,500,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$0’’. 
Æ 
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