Ensuring Telehealth Expansion Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-8156
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]
Introduced: 2020-09-01
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Congressional oversight

Digestive and metabolic diseases

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Government studies and investigations

Health care costs and insurance

Health care coverage and access

Health facilities and institutions

Health technology, devices, supplies

Home and outpatient care

Income tax deductions

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Medicare

Rural conditions and development
Latest action: action_date: 2020-09-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-09-01
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Ensuring Telehealth Expansion Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill extends through December 31, 2025, several telehealth flexibilities that were initially authorized during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), such as expanded Medicare coverage of such services.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8156 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 1, 2020 Mr. Williams introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means , and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , 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 A BILL To extend certain provisions relating to telehealth services, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Telehealth Expansion Act of 2020 . 2. Extension of certain provisions relating to telehealth services (a) Exemption for telehealth services (1) In general Subparagraph (E) of section 223(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking December 31, 2021 and inserting December 31, 2025 . (2) Certain coverage disregarded Clause (ii) of section 223(c)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking December 31, 2021 and inserting December 31, 2025 . (3) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Increasing Medicare telehealth flexibilities during limited period Section 1135(b)(8) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(b)(8) ) is amended by striking during any portion of any emergency period and inserting during any portion of the period beginning on the first day of the emergency period described in subsection (g)(1)(B) and ending on December 31, 2025 . (c) Enhancing Medicare telehealth services for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics during limited period; Eliminating special payment rule for such services (1) In general Paragraph (8) of section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m) ) is amended to read as follows: (8) Enhancing telehealth services for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics during limited period During the period beginning on the first day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) and ending on December 31, 2025— (A) the Secretary shall pay for telehealth services that are furnished via a telecommunications system by a Federally qualified health center or a rural health clinic to an eligible telehealth individual enrolled under this part notwithstanding that the Federally qualified health center or rural clinic providing the telehealth service is not at the same location as the beneficiary; and (B) for purposes of this subsection— (i) the term distant site includes a Federally qualified health center or rural health clinic that furnishes a telehealth service to an eligible telehealth individual; and (ii) the term telehealth services includes a rural health clinic service or Federally qualified health center service that is furnished using telehealth to the extent that payment codes corresponding to services identified by the Secretary under clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (4)(F) are listed on the corresponding claim for such rural health clinic service or Federally qualified health center service. . (2) Conforming amendment Section 1834(m)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(2)(A) ) is amended by striking Subject to paragraph (8), the and inserting The . (3) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the CARES Act ( Public Law 116–136 ). (d) Temporary waiver of requirements for face-to-Face visits between home dialysis patients and physicians Section 1881(b)(3)(B)(iii) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395rr(b)(3)(B)(iii) ) is amended by striking during the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) and inserting during the period beginning on the first day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) and ending on December 31, 2025 . (e) Use of telehealth To conduct face-to-Face encounter prior to recertification of eligibility for hospice care during limited period Section 1814(a)(7)(D)(i)(II) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)(7)(D)(i)(II) ) is amended by striking during the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) and inserting during the period beginning on the first day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) and ending on December 31, 2025 . (f) Encouraging use of telecommunications systems for home health services furnished during limited period Section 3707 of the CARES Act ( Public Law 116–136 ) is amended by striking during the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B) ) and inserting during the period beginning on the first day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B) ) and ending on December 31, 2025 . 3. Temporary nonapplication of originating site requirements with respect to telehealth services under Medicare program Section 1834(m)(4)(C) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(C) ) is amended— (1) in clause (i), by inserting before paragraphs (5), (6), and (7) the following: clause (iii) and ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new clause: (iii) Temporary nonapplication of originating site requirements For the period beginning on the first day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) and ending on December 31, 2025, the term originating site means any site at which the eligible telehealth individual is located at the time the service is furnished via a telecommunications system. . 4. Report by Comptroller General The Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress— (1) not later than December 31, 2023, a report on the success and limitations of implementing the statutory provisions amended by sections 2 and 3, including— (A) details of any savings or costs to the Federal Government that are attributable to the implementation of such provisions; and (B) an analysis of how the implementation of such provisions have impacted rural hospitals; and (2) not later than December 31, 2025, updates regarding the report described in paragraph (1).