Modernized Medicine Act

Bill: 116-hr-6538
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4]
Introduced: 2020-04-17
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health care coverage and access

Health technology, devices, supplies

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Intergovernmental relations

Medicaid

State and local finance
Latest action: action_date: 2020-04-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-04-17
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Modernized Medicine Act</b></p> <p>This bill increases the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid telehealth services that are furnished during the public health emergency declared on January 31, 2020, relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). In order to receive the increased FMAP, state Medicaid programs must provide coverage that is consistent with Medicare coverage of telehealth services.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6538 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 17, 2020 Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mr. Upton , and Ms. Blunt Rochester ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To provide for a temporary increase in Federal financial participation under the Medicaid program for telehealth services, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Modernized Medicine Act . 2. Temporary increase in Medicaid Federal financial participation for telehealth services (a) In general Subject to subsection (b), for each calendar quarter occurring during the period beginning on the first day of the emergency period defined in paragraph (1)(B) of section 1135(g) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g) ) and ending on the last day of the calendar quarter in which the last day of such emergency period occurs, in the case of a State that has expenditures for telehealth services furnished during such quarter for which payment may be made to the State under section 1903(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396b(a) ), the percentage of Federal financial participation otherwise required to be paid to such State under such section for such amounts expended shall be increased by one percentage point. (b) Requirements A State described in subsection (a) may not receive the percentage increase in Federal financial participation described in such subsection with respect to a calendar quarter unless the State provides for telehealth services under the State plan approved under such title XIX (or a waiver of such plan) during such quarter in the same manner and to the same extent that telehealth services are covered under section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m) ), including pursuant to any waiver under section 1135 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5 ). Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed as requiring a State to pay for telehealth services furnished to an individual eligible under the State plan (or waiver) at a rate that would exceed the payment amount that otherwise would be made under the State plan (or waiver) for such services.