Mental and Behavioral Health Connectivity Act

Bill: 116-s-3999
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2020-06-18
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access

Health facilities and institutions

Health technology, devices, supplies

Home and outpatient care

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Medicare

Mental health

Rural conditions and development
Latest action: action_date: 2020-06-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-06-18
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Mental and Behavioral Health Connectivity Act</b></p> <p>This bill modifies requirements relating to coverage of certain telehealth services under Medicare. Specifically, the bill excludes mental and behavioral health services from restrictions that (1) require the originating site (i.e., the location of the beneficiary) to be in certain rural areas and to be a specific type of facility, (2) allow only certain types of health care practitioners to furnish such services, and (3) require the use of video technology.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3999 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 18, 2020 Mr. King (for himself and Mr. Young ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure access to mental health and behavioral health services furnished through telehealth under the Medicare program.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Mental and Behavioral Health Connectivity Act . 2. Ensuring access to mental health and behavioral health services furnished through telehealth Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (9) Ensuring access to mental health and behavioral health services furnished through telehealth (A) In general The following requirements shall not apply with respect to telehealth services that are mental health or behavioral health services, as determined by the Secretary, furnished on or after January 1, 2021, to an eligible telehealth individual: (i) The requirements described in paragraph (4)(C) (relating to geographic and site requirements for originating sites). (ii) The requirements described in paragraph (4)(E) and section 410.78(b)(2) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulations (relating to the types of practitioners that may furnish telehealth services at a distant site). (iii) The requirements described in paragraph (1) and section 410.78(a)(3) of title 42, Code of Federal regulations, or any successor regulations (relating to use of interactive telecommunications systems to furnish telehealth services), but only to the extent that such provisions require use of video technology in order to allow for the use of audio-only equipment. (B) No facility fee if originating site is the home In accordance with clause (ii) of paragraph (2)(B), no facility fee shall be paid under such paragraph to an originating site with respect to a telehealth service described in subparagraph (A) if the originating site is the home of an individual. .