SEC. 2. STRATEGIES TO INCREASE ACCESS TO TELE-
HEALTH UNDER MEDICAID AND CHILDREN’S 
HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall issue and disseminate guidance to 
States to clarify strategies to overcome existing barriers 
and increase access to telehealth under the Medicaid pro-
gram under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) and the Children’s Health Insurance 
Program under title XXI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa 
et seq.). Such guidance shall include technical assistance 
and best practices regarding— 
(1) telehealth delivery of covered services; 
(2) recommended voluntary billing codes, modi-
fiers, and place-of-service designations for telehealth 
and other virtual health care services; 
(3) the simplification or alignment (including 
through 
reciprocity) 
of 
provider 
licensing, 
credentialing, and enrollment protocols with respect 
to telehealth across States, State Medicaid plans 
under such title XIX, and Medicaid managed care 
organizations, including during national public 
health emergencies; 
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(4) existing strategies States can use to inte-
grate telehealth and other virtual health care serv-
ices into value-based health care models; and 
(5) examples of States that have used waivers 
under the Medicaid program to test expanded access 
to telehealth, including during the emergency period 
described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B)). 
(b) STUDIES.— 
(1) TELEHEALTH
IMPACT
ON
HEALTH
CARE 
ACCESS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Medicaid and CHIP Pay-
ment and Access Commission shall conduct a study, 
with respect to a minimum of 10 States across geo-
graphic regions of the United States, and submit to 
Congress a report, on the impact of telehealth on 
health care access, utilization, cost, and outcomes, 
broken down by race, ethnicity, sex, age, disability 
status, and zip code. Such report shall— 
(A) evaluate cost, access, utilization, out-
comes, and patient experience data from across 
the health care field, including States, Medicaid 
managed care organizations, provider organiza-
tions, and other organizations that provide or 
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pay for telehealth under the Medicaid program 
and Children’s Health Insurance Program; 
(B) identify barriers and potential solu-
tions to provider entry and participation in tele-
health that States are experiencing, as well as 
barriers to providing telehealth across State 
lines, including during times of public health 
crisis or public health emergency; 
(C) determine the frequency at which out- 
of-State telehealth is provided to patients en-
rolled in the Medicaid program and the poten-
tial impact on access to telehealth if State Med-
icaid policies were more aligned; and 
(D) identify and evaluate opportunities for 
more alignment among such policies to promote 
access to telehealth across all States, State 
Medicaid plans under title XIX of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), State 
child health plans under title XXI of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.), and Medicaid man-
aged care organizations, including the potential 
for regional compacts or reciprocity agreements. 
(2) FEDERAL AGENCY TELEHEALTH COLLABO-
RATION.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
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the United States shall conduct a study and submit 
to Congress a report evaluating collaboration be-
tween Federal agencies with respect to telehealth 
services furnished under the Medicaid or CHIP pro-
gram to individuals under the age of 18, including 
such services furnished to such individuals in early 
care and education settings. Such report shall in-
clude recommendations on— 
(A) opportunities for Federal agencies to 
improve collaboration with respect to such tele-
health services; and 
(B) opportunities for collaboration between 
Federal agencies to expand telehealth access to 
such individuals enrolled under the Medicaid or 
CHIP program, including in early care and 
education settings. 
Æ 
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