Telehealth Extension and Evaluation Act

Bill: 117-hr-7573
Sponsor: Rep. Axne, Cynthia [D-IA-3]
Introduced: 2022-04-26 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Internet, web applications, social media
Medicaid
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Prescription drugs
Right of privacy
Rural conditions and development
Sound recording
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2022-04-26
text: 

Telehealth Extension 

and Evaluation Act

 
This bill expands and otherwise modifies coverage of telehealth services under Medicare until two years after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
 
Specifically, the bill (1) allows federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner), (2) allows for Medicare payment of certain audio-only services and of outpatient critical access hospital services consisting of telehealth behavioral therapy, (3) conditions payment for certain high-cost laboratory tests and durable medical equipment that are ordered via telehealth on at least one in-person visit during the preceding 12-month period, and (4) allows Schedule II through V controlled substances to be prescribed online if a practitioner has conducted a telehealth evaluation with video.
 
The bill also generally extends any Medicare telehealth flexibilities that were granted during the COVID-19 public health emergency until two years after the emergency ends. 
 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must report on the effects of changes that were made during the emergency period with respect to the provision or availability of telehealth services under Medicare. The CMS must also award grants to state Medicaid programs to allow them to report on similar information. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-11-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2022-04-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2022-04-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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: 2022-04-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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: 2022-04-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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: 2022-04-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2022-04-26
text: Introduced in House