Kidney Health Connect Act
Bill: S.4307 | Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. (D-VA)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Kidney Health Connect Act
This bill permanently allows Medicare beneficiaries to receive telehealth services at renal dialysis facilities.

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the ability 
    of renal dialysis facilities to serve as originating sites for 
            telehealth services under the Medicare program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Kidney Health Connect Act''.

SEC. 2. EXPANDING THE ABILITY OF RENAL DIALYSIS FACILITIES TO SERVE AS 
              ORIGINATING SITES FOR TELEHEALTH SERVICES UNDER THE 
              MEDICARE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 1834(m)(4)(C)(ii)(IX) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(C)(ii)(IX)) is amended by striking 
``, but only for purposes of section 1881(b)(3)(B)''.
    (b) Removal of Geographic Requirements.--Section 1834(m) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5)--
                    (A) in the header, by inserting ``and telehealth 
                services furnished at a renal dialysis facility'' after 
                ``visit'';
                    (B) by striking ``subclause (VI), (IX), or (X)'' 
                and inserting ``subclause (VI) or (X)''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``, or with respect to telehealth 
                services furnished for any purpose at an originating 
                site described in subclause (IX) of such paragraph'' 
                before the period at the end; and
            (2) in paragraph (7)(A), by striking ``(other than an 
        originating site described in subclause (IX) of such 
        paragraph)''.
    (c) Prohibition on Facility Fee.--Section 1834(m)(2)(B)(ii) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(2)(B)(ii)) is amended--
            (1) in the header, by striking ``if originating site is the 
        home'' and inserting ``for certain originating sites''; and
            (2) by striking ``described in paragraph (4)(C)(ii)(X)'' 
        and inserting ``described in subclause (IX) or (X) of paragraph 
        (4)(C)(ii)''.
    (d) Face-to-Face Monthly Requirement for Certain Services.--Section 
1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Subject to paragraph 
        (8)'' and inserting ``Subject to paragraphs (5)(B) and (8)''; 
        and
            (2) in paragraph (5), as amended by subsection (b)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``renal dialysis facility.--The 
                geographic requirements'' and inserting ``renal 
                dialysis facility.--
                    ``(A) Waiver of geographic requirements.--The 
                geographic requirements''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(B) Face-to-face monthly requirement.--
                Subparagraph (A) shall apply to an individual, with 
                respect to telehealth services furnished by a physician 
                or practitioner for purposes of section 
                1881(b)(3)(A)(ii) (not including telehealth services 
                rendered for purposes of section 1881(b)(3)(B)) at an 
                originating site described in subclause (IX) of 
                paragraph (4)(C)(ii) only if the individual had at 
                least one face-to-face visit with a physician during 
                the same calendar month such telehealth services were 
                rendered.''.
                                 <all>