TeleCAST Act

Bill: 115-s-2910
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2018-05-22
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health

Congressional oversight

Drug therapy

Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Drug, alcohol, tobacco use

Educational facilities and institutions

Elementary and secondary education

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Health care coverage and access

Health care quality

Health facilities and institutions

Health technology, devices, supplies

Medicaid

Rural conditions and development
Latest action: action_date: 2018-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-05-22
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Telehealth for Children&rsquo;s Access to Services and Treatment Act or the TeleCAST Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on children's access to substance use disorder services under Medicaid. The report must include an analysis of: (1) state options to improve access, such as via telehealth services at school-based health centers in underserved areas; and (2) reimbursement rates for substance use disorder services. </p> <p>In addition, the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services must report on ways to reduce barriers to the use of telehealth services for children with substance use disorders under Medicaid. The report must include an analysis of the differences between telehealth and in-person services with respect to specified metrics (e.g., costs and quality of care).</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2910 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 22, 2018 Mr. Roberts (for himself, Mr. Nelson , Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Warner , Mr. Thune , Mr. Carper , and Ms. Stabenow ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To evaluate access to services and treatment for substance use disorders and to telehealth services and remote patient monitoring for pediatric populations under Medicaid.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Telehealth for Children’s Access to Services and Treatment Act or the TeleCAST Act . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Comptroller General The term Comptroller General means the Comptroller General of the United States. (2) School-based health center The term school-based health center has the meaning given that term in section 2110(c)(9) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1397jj(c)(9) ). (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (4) Telehealth services The term telehealth services includes remote patient monitoring and other key modalities such as live video or synchronous telehealth, store-and-forward or asynchronous telehealth, mobile health, telephonic consultation, and electronic consult including provider-to-provider e-consults. (5) Underserved area The term underserved area means a health professional shortage area (as defined in section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254e(a)(1)(A) )) and a medically underserved area (according to a designation under section 330(b)(3)(A) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254b(b)(3)(A) )). 3. GAO evaluation of children's access to services and treatment for substance use disorders under Medicaid (a) Study The Comptroller General shall evaluate children's access to services and treatment for substance use disorders under Medicaid. The evaluation shall include an analysis of State options for improving children's access to such services and treatment and for improving outcomes, including by increasing the number of Medicaid providers who offer services or treatment for substance use disorders in a school-based health center using telehealth services, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The evaluation shall include an analysis of Medicaid provider reimbursement rates for services and treatment for substance use disorders. (b) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the evaluation conducted under subsection (a), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate. 4. Report on reducing barriers to using telehealth services and remote patient monitoring for pediatric populations under Medicaid (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall issue a report to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representative identifying best practices and potential solutions for reducing barriers to using telehealth services to furnish services and treatment for substance use disorders among pediatric populations under Medicaid. The report shall include— (1) analyses of the best practices, barriers, and potential solutions for using telehealth services to diagnose and provide services and treatment for children with substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder; and (2) identification and analysis of the differences, if any, in furnishing services and treatment for children with substance use disorders using telehealth services and using services delivered in person, such as, and to the extent feasible, with respect to— (A) utilization rates; (B) costs; (C) avoidable inpatient admissions and readmissions; (D) quality of care; and (E) patient, family, and provider satisfaction. (b) Publication The Secretary shall publish the report required under subsection (a) on a public Internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services.