Expanding Access to Mental Health Services Act

Bill: 117-hr-4012
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Rosendale Sr., Matthew M. [R-MT-At Large]
Introduced: 2021-06-17
Policy area: Health
Latest action: action_date: 2021-06-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-06-17
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Expanding Access to Mental Health Services Act</b></p> <p>This bill permanently allows for Medicare coverage of certain mental health services that are provided through telehealth, including audio-only services for certain categories of services (e.g., screenings and evaluations) in accordance with standards set by the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4012 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 17, 2021 Mr. Rosendale introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means , 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 amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permanently include certain HCPCS codes as telehealth services under such title, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Expanding Access to Mental Health Services Act . 2. Permanent inclusion of certain HCPCS codes as telehealth services under Medicare Section 1834(m)(4)(F) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(F) ) is amended— (1) in clause (i), by inserting the HCPCS codes specified in clause (iii), before , and ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new clause: (iii) Specified HCPCS code For purposes of clause (i), beginning April 1, 2021, an HCPCS code specified in this clause is— (I) 90875, 96125, 96170, 96171, 97151, 97152, 97153, 97154, 97155, 97156, 97157, and 97158; and (II) 96127, 96130, 96131, 96132, 96133, 96136, 96137, 96138, 96139, and 96158. With respect to telehealth services identified by HCPCS codes in subclause (II), the Secretary shall waive the requirements of paragraph (1) and section 410.78(a)(3) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation), relating to the use of interactive telecommunications systems to furnish telehealth services, to the extent such provisions require the use of video technology, to allow for the furnishing of evaluation and management services, behavioral health counseling and educational services, and other services determined appropriate by the Secretary by a qualified provider using audio-only technology, as determined by the Secretary based on whether it is clinically appropriate to furnish such services using audio-only technology and whether an in-person initial visit is required prior to the furnishing of such service using such technology. .