Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-2903
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5]
Introduced: 2021-04-28 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Home and outpatient care
Indian social and development programs
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Licensing and registrations
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medical education
Medicare
Minority health
Right of privacy
Rural conditions and development
State and local government operations
Telephone and wireless communication
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: 

Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021 or the CONNECT for Health Act of 

2021

 
This bill expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare. 
 
Among other provisions, the bill
 
 
allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to waive certain restrictions, such as restrictions on the types of technology that may be used; 
 
permanently removes geographic restrictions on originating sites (i.e., the location of the beneficiary) and allows the home of the beneficiary to serve as the originating site for all services;
 
permanently allows federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner); and
 
allows the CMS to generally waive coverage restrictions during any public health emergency. 
 
 
Additionally, the CMS must report on the effects of expanded telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency, including with respect to the utilization, quality, and outcomes of services. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation may also test alternative payment models relating to expanded telehealth services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Introduced in House